“And He said, ‘Come.’ And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.” Matthew 14:29 NKJV
“Faith begins when the picture of Jesus becomes greater within you than the picture of what could go wrong.” — Dr. Daniel LeBlanc
Day 26: Step Out of the Boat
Today I want you to step inside another story. Become quiet and ask the Holy Spirit to allow the Word of God to paint a God Imagination within your heart.
You are in a small boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, and it is dark. The wind is blowing hard, waves are beating against the boat, and you can hardly hold on. Then through the darkness you see something moving across the water, and someone cries out that it is a ghost. Your imagination immediately paints the worst possible picture, and fear turns into terror.
Then a familiar voice rises above the storm: “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Matthew 14:27 NKJV. It is Jesus, and your heart begins moving from terror toward faith as you recognize and trust His voice.
You respond, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus answers with one unmistakable word: “Come.” You look over the side of the boat and think, “But that is Jesus standing on the water, not me.” Everything you know naturally tells you to stay in the boat, but everything you know about Jesus tells you to trust His voice.
Now you have two pictures before you. Your circumstances say, “Stay in the boat. This is impossible. You are going to sink.” But Jesus is standing before you saying, “Come.” You have to decide which picture you are going to believe.
You put one leg over the side and then the other. You release your grip on the boat, place your foot upon the water, and somehow it holds you. You take another step and then another, and suddenly you realize you are walking on water toward Jesus.
Nothing about the storm has changed. The wind is still blowing and the waves are still moving, but your eyes are fixed upon Jesus and His word has become greater within you than what your natural eyes can see. This is God Imagination because what Jesus has spoken is painting the picture you believe.
Then your attention shifts from Jesus to the storm. The wind has been there the entire time, but now it becomes the dominant picture, and fear begins telling you, “You cannot do this. You are going to drown.”
Suddenly you begin sinking, and panic takes over. You cry out, “Lord, save me!” and immediately Jesus reaches toward you and takes hold of you. He does not stand at a distance and watch you drown because your faith weakened. His hand is there the moment you cry out.
Now see yourself in the storm with His hand holding yours. The wind is still blowing and the waves are still moving, but Jesus is closer to you than the storm.
There will be moments when Jesus calls you beyond what feels safe, familiar, or possible. Faith does not require the absence of a storm because Peter walks on the water while the storm is still raging. Faith requires that Jesus and what He has spoken become greater within you than the picture being painted by your circumstances.
Even if fear captures your attention and you begin to sink, do not allow that moment to become your final picture. Turn your eyes back toward Jesus and cry out to Him because His hand is still reaching toward you.
Prayer
Jesus, teach me to keep my eyes upon You when everything around me is trying to capture my attention. Let Your Word and Your voice become greater within me than my fear, and give me courage to step out when You say, “Come.”
When fear causes me to look away, remind me that Your hand is still reaching toward me. Help me see You as greater than every storm I face. Amen.
Today’s God Imagination
Close your eyes and see yourself in the boat while the wind blows and the waves rise around you. Look through the storm until you see Jesus and hear Him say, “Come.”
Now see yourself stepping out of the boat with your eyes fixed upon Him. Whatever storm you are facing today, allow the picture of Jesus to become greater within you than the picture of what could go wrong.
