Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowd. After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, He was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” He said. 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?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Matthew 14:22-33
“Your only safety lies in placing yourself in circumstances which will make exertion necessary, and which will secure divine assistance. Never mind your infirmities. You have nothing to do with them. Your business is to trust, and to go forward. If you wait till the sea becomes land, you will never walk on it. You must leave the ship, and, like Peter, set your feet upon the waves, and you will find them marble.”
Edward Payson in Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers, compiled by Josiah Hotchkiss Gilbert (New York: Wilbur B. Ketcham, 1895) 125.
“Your business is to trust, and to go forward.”
What does this mean for you? Is it your aim to ride comfortably and try to weather the storms that come? Is it time to leave the ship?
For me it means to pack and head to Dubai. Today I am making final preparations for the inaugural GTP global gathering of 12 board members from 7 countries, 12 regional facilitators from 12 countries, and 4 staff from 3 countries. 28 people in all from 15 countries. I fly out tomorrow, arrive in Dubai late on Friday and convene with my colleagues on Saturday.
We come together with a shared purpose: In obedient service to Jesus Christ, GTP multiplies disciples of faithful administration and mobilizes peer accountability groups to increase gospel participation in every nation.
Over the past five years my work in this area has resulted in training God’s servants in 20+ countries and setting up ECFA type groups in 7 countries. Now this global team wants to collaborate to multiply that impact and mobilize more groups. Coordinating this effort is the step God has put before me.
What step is God calling you to take today?
Only when you step out of the boat do you find the waves as solid as marble. You don’t figure it out until you leave the ship. Risking everything positions you for divine assistance from God’s rich and generous supply. You may not be headed to Dubai, but it may be a big step. Whatever it is. Take it and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.
“Your business is to trust, and to go forward.”