STEPPING OUT of the boat to WALK ON WATER I

Hello!

I think this is my first official post. And I will just dive in because I don't think there is a formula for writing your first post, though I will admit, I am slightly nervous... Anyway, let me start by sharing what I have been learning lately that led to me even getting the courage to put up this blog. . . 

I fellowship in a Church called Victory Faith Church  that is located in Garden Estate. (Click link to find out more). We have youth meetings two Sundays a month that are held right after the main morning service. I started attending these meetings when I was about 13 years old. For a long time, I attended these meetings out of compulsion but from last year, I have found myself looking forward to the next and the next youth meeting. 

This year we’ve had several amazing meetings and but the first three really stood out for me. The theme for this season is STEPPING OUT… or JUMPING OUT, depending on the Bible version you used. This theme was derived from the Story of Peter when he asked Jesus to call him into the water.

Peter shouted out, “Lord, if it’s really you, then have me join you over the water.”

“Come and join me,” Jesus replied. So, Peter STEPPED OUT into the water and began to walk toward Jesus.

Matthew 14:28-29 TPT

Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.”

He said, “Come ahead.” JUMPING OUT of the boat, Peter WALKED ON THE WATER to Jesus.

Matthew 14:28-29 MSG

I like how the message goes on with the story in verse 30: But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me.”

Most times when this story is preached, it is usually in reference to verse 30 - how he began to sink. But do people actually realize that in the previous verse he walked! At least he walked, even if it was a few steps… Have you yourself ever walked on water?  Don’t look at me, I have, 😊 but in secret 😆 Peter did it in front of 11 other people. People who probably were his best critics.

There were 11 other people in this story but they are not the ones we talk about. We only talk about Jesus-and-his-miracle and Peter-and-his-failure. Why? Because most of the time, we prefer to be the ones chilling in the boat than the ones walking on the water. . . We would rather be in our comfort zones. . . 

In that first youth meeting a lot was pointed out concerning comfort zones but this quote stood out for me:

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone

I actually like the way this story turned out. If Peter had walked all the way, I would feel too pressured as a believer today. But I thank God he began to sink at some point...This story is a classic example of most believers’ lives, me included. One moment you are very bold, you not only step out, but actually jump out into what God has called you into; but as soon as you spot the first wave you forget where your focus was and the one who called you out. 

The funny thing actually, is that, the waves were already there even before Peter began to walk on that water, look at the previous verses, Peter did not take those few steps due to absence of waves😏… in fact, he had never walked on bathtub, pond or river water which are usually still! He walked because of the instruction: COME. He knew Jesus does not play games, if he says COME, it means it is possible, and that word must be fulfilled. So, Peter began to sink because he forgot the word. The word had said COME… and its fulfillment did not depend on presence or absence of waves.

But see how the scenario ends, He called out for help! And Jesus saved him. He however rebuked him and this rebuke was of love, when you look at it. It was a friend asking a friend, “Hey, I thought you trust me? Why did you doubt me? I have never failed you, why would you think that of me now?” I also like the fact that Peter was not too proud to ask for help. It reminds me of one who has understood the verse, "Come boldly to the throne of Grace, that you may obtain mercy..." Grace and mercy is given to people who've messed up, like Peter. 

This understanding gives me a lot of courage to actually step out into the things God is calling me into.

1. That his commandments come with enablements.
2. Should, I happen to mess up, and call out to Him, he will stretch out His loving hand and put me back on track.

After that meeting, we were given an assignment - A STEPPING OUT challenge. The ladies were to plan for the next youth meeting and the men to plan the one after that. Those two weeks were the most stretching weeks I have ever had. We ladies were just too ambitious, were decided to do a dance, a play, a short sermon, one newish song and badges as our stepping out symbol in the 2-hour program🤭. 

These are the areas where I was forced to step out:

• Planning and coordinating people: I normally prefer working with people who don’t need follow up, but this time, I had to gather my courage and inbox people to find out whether they had done their part.
• Writing the script for the play: When I was in primary, I used to do this and then as I grew older, I began to doubt my skills because of all those rules we were taught in high school set books. Even though this was not a theatre-level kind of script, it really was a stepping-out for me.
• Acting in the play: I have always had stage fright when speaking in front of people. I found presentations easier because you don’t have to display much emotions plus you don’t really need to cram a script. In this play, I was forced to cram parts, be flexible when the other actors skipped or forgot their parts and bring out the characters they way they should. That was a step-out for me.
• Leading praise and worship: I know those who come to my church are like, ‘but you do this almost every Sunday’. Yes, I do. But on this particular day, I truly led: I allowed a bit of what I do with the Holy Spirit in my closet to take place on that stage. I didn't hold back and for I moment I think I experienced what it means to be poured out...

... 🎶 And we are stepping out! Only because you made a way

There are many more ways I may have stepped out during that whole assignment but these four are what stood out for me.

After that meeting, I went home and kept asking the Holy Spirit, “What areas in my personal life would you like me to step out? Show me areas in my life where I am stuck in my comfort zone and help me to step out.” He pointed out several areas which I wrote down, and He has been showing me how to go about them without getting overwhelmed. One of those areas was sharing the things that I learn with other people. As in, more people than just the ones in my phone book and Facebook.

For a long time, I would keep those things to myself, or share with the one or two people I interact with. With time, I began posting on my WhatsApp and sometimes Facebook statuses, but not every friend on my WhatsApp is a friend on Facebook and vice versa. Also, sometimes, I share something with a friend then because the time is limited, they ask me whether I have it written somewhere I share… In one incident two new friends I met even asked me, “By the way, remind me the name of your YouTube channel?”🤣🤣 As all these things happened I knew all along what I should do, but I had excuses which can be summed up to: I didn't want to leave my comfort zone.

With all these confirmations of what had been an affirmation in my heart, I knew, I have to step out. I have to get out of my comfort zones and just try, “Even if it will be a simple blog at first, I can always keep adding features, right?”

While this revelation was still fresh, I decided to not only STEP OUT, but also JUMP OUT and walk on the waters of content creation. And this post, plus many more to come, is an example of that content.

So, dear reader, do you have a particular area in your life that God has been nudging you to step out? My encouragement to you is take at least one step forward, you will be surprised how that single act of boldness will lead you to a stream of others and then you can one day add to your list of hobbies: 'walking on water' 😜. You know what I mean...

Until the next post, I leave you with these lyrics from Britt Nicole's Walk on the Water.

When you take that first step

Into the unknown

You know that He won't let you go

So what are you waiting for?

What do you have to lose?

Your insecurities, they try to alter you

You know you're made for more

So don't be afraid to move

Your faith is all

It takes in you

You can walk on the water too.