Written By: Priscilla Burr| Content Manager
Photo By: Reed Burr

Ankle-deep in the ocean, I reached my hand out toward my three-year-old daughter. She grabbed it. As I pulled her to go deeper with me, she pulled me toward the shore. She had floaties on, and the ocean was calm. We were in the Gulf, with little to no waves. I knew she was safe, and I would protect her. 

But the more I tried to draw her out of her comfort zone, the more she tugged toward safety. 

I was reminded of Christ. How often does He take our hands, but we turn back?

Jesus calls us out of safety. He calls us to have faith beyond reason. Yet, we often choose to remain on the shore – free of any uncertainty. The reality is, if we dared to step out with Jesus, He would be right there beside us. 

We see this in Scripture when Jesus calls Peter out of the boat. Jesus asked Peter to take a step of faith, and Jesus was right there with him.

Matthew 14:29-31
“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did you doubt?'”

What causes us to have so little faith? Perhaps we get too focused on our circumstances and what the world tells us is impossible. But how different would our world be if more of us took steps of faith and didn’t doubt Him? 

My prayer is that when Jesus calls us out of the boat, we walk with faith beyond reason. Instead of being focused on the wind, we remain focused on Jesus. May we trust Him so deeply that the circumstances around us won’t sway our faith.