If you talked to any of my close friends or family, you’d probably find out that I’ve been doing some pretty uncharacteristically “Ashley” things at the time of writing this.
I’d be happy to share more over a cup of coffee (if you’re curious about the details), but the point I’d like to make by mentioning this is that by “stepping out of the boat,” I’ve been learning quite a lot about myself, and, more importantly, quite a lot about God.
I think it’s wonderful that being Christians means we can focus on growing and not on results, though we often fall into the lie that results or “arriving” somewhere is somehow the point of being Christ’s. It’s not! He just wants to beckon us further up and further into Himself. Always and forever.
Another thing that my family and friends would probably tell you is that I’ve been camped in Romans chapter 8 this year. And would you know, a verse stuck out to me for the first time reading this passage again today? Here’s the part that jumped out at me: “Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them — living and breathing God!”
People love to point out that Peter began to sink when he got afraid, and how he “dropped the ball” after having such an epic moment of faith that allowed him to do the unthinkable — walk on water (and remind us we shouldn’t be like him when he faltered). But, with Peter and Abraham, it’s actually encouraging to me that both of them “failed” (and not once, but many times). Why? Because this means there’s hope for me if I fail, too. I think the main point is that they believed. And because they acted on that belief (poorly at times, and stumbling along the way), they learned.
We can only begin to see that God is with us if we get out of the boat. If we take that step, and give something we’re scared to do a try, does that mean everything will go perfectly? Does it mean we won’t fail or mess up again? Unfortunately, no. But as we “trust God’s action” in us, we’ll begin to see, more and more, “God’s Spirit is in [us].”
And isn’t this the Christian life, friends? Growing in trust and faith that God is with us, always and forever?
Ashley Carr
Writing Team