I have such a love for the water and grew up boating on Lake Erie so I was naturally drawn to the book our life group has been reading the past few months called “If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat” (John Ortberg). This book is full of truth and has reminded me over and over again how God is calling each of us to get out of the boat and trust him in every aspect of our lives. He’s looking for people to step up and step out on the water where it feels uncomfortable, even scary.  

You see, our faith doesn’t grow by staying in our comfort zone inside the boat. Each time you trust God and seek to discern and obey his calling on your life, your God will get bigger. You will understand more about his magnificent power, his unfailing love for you, his mercy, his grace, his forgiveness, his faithfulness, his heart, and so on. When we’re willing to get out of the boat and take a step in faith, we get to witness “But for God” or “If not for God moments.” It doesn’t mean that we’ll be spared from adversity, but we’ll gain a new and deeper understanding of who God is and all that he is capable of.

In the book, Ortberg suggests that the way that we live is a consequence of the size of our God. The problem for many of us (myself included) he shares, is that our God is too small. We’re not completely convinced that God is in control and that we are safe and secure no matter what. As a result, we tend to live with a lot of fear, worry, and anxiety because everything we do depends on us, instead of relying on the security and acceptance we have in God, who is all-knowing and has a plan and a purpose for each of our lives.  

What about you? What’s your boat? In other words, what are you clinging to and finding your safety and security in apart from God? What are you tempted to put your trust in? What are you most and fear of leaving behind if you step out in faith? Is it your job? The approval of others? Having enough financial resources? Fear of failure? No matter what it is that may be keeping you from getting out of the boat and walking on the water, know that God is waiting for you to take a step. He will be there to fill in the gaps. He wants you to fully trust him because your best life is waiting out on the water when you step outside of the boat. Every day, I’m challenging myself to get out of my boat and without my purpose. I hope you will too. God is looking for more people to join him out on the water, where we’ll see him get bigger and bigger.