Peter and the Tight Rope

I am currently gearing up for a huge step in my world. I am heading to Seminary. I am going for a Master’s in Divinity in Youth and Family Studies. In a lot of ways, I feel like Peter when he was getting out of the boat. Wind going crazy, world in an uproar, and I am praying and hoping that it is Jesus I am seeing walking on the water. I am hoping he will invite me.

One of the most significant parts of this story is simply this: Peter made sure to ask Jesus to invite him on the water before he made the jump out of the boat. I can only imagine being there. Peter says “Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.” I wonder if Mark said something like, “huh? hold up, Peter, you are not actually thinking about going out there are you?” Peter got something, he understood something important. He asked to be invited because if Jesus invited him, he would not have to worry about all of the things he cannot do, like walk on water. He would just need to focus on what he could do; get out of the boat, and walk.

There, in that boat, being tossed by the wind, Peter, and without debate the rest of the disciples, waited to hear the next word from Jesus. “Come.” It is at this point I start to think about a couple of things. 1. Did anyone try to stop him? 2. Was Peter really thinking? He was a pretty brash guy in general. 3. Was the water slippery like ice? Was it soft? 4. Did Peter jump out? Or did he put one foot down to see if there was solid ground? I have my reasons to believe he did a jumping motion. I can sum up the next part of the story for you. Have you ever seen anyone walk on a tight rope or do something ridiculously crazy without any safety? I have. I saw this guy climb a skyscraper. No gear, just shoes and tape on the fingers. RIDICULOUS! But I bet there were 22 eyes on Peter in earnest waiting to see what would become of their dear friend. So Peter jumps out, he starts walking ON WATER! WHAT!? He gets all the way to Jesus and then something happens, he starts to be reminded by the wind that he is out of his comfort zone. He begins to sink, and Jesus saves him after he cries out. Then Jesus says something like “Why did you doubt?”. This could be translated in the realm of “Peter, why did you doubt me! You were right there! I got your back, but you were so close!”

I feel like I am at the beginning of that jumping out stage. I’m on my way to take a trip to Seminary, and the entire time I have been preparing, I have been asking God to invite me there. But it’s harder when there isn’t a voice to the feeling.

One thing stands out, and I have seen this in many different areas; what is your wind? I focus often on “would you get out of the boat” but I will give you the benefit of the doubt. Let’s say, for a moment, that you would get out. You would ask Jesus to invite you, you would jump out. Let’s make it slippery for fun. You are sliding around having a good time. Eyes on Jesus, yelling back to your buddies in the boat “HEY GUYS! CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS!”. Then, boom! Wind. What is your wind. What is it that chases you back to a comfort zone? I have been involved with churches that revolve around comfort zones. Heavy on my heart lately is this idea of comfort zones. Most of them are in the form of clicks. Some of them are in the form of an individual in the church blowing wind your way because they are either too afraid to do what you are doing, or they are jealous they literally cannot do it. What is your wind? Mine is my insecurities. I try to do everything I can to boast in Christ alone, and to further His kingdom. I try to please people a lot. I am not very amazing with being judged or not liked. But it is during those times that I need to widen my gaze on Christ. Let him be the beacon that gave me the courage to step onto the water in the first place.

When I meet my wind, I am reminded of my blog post Stallion. It is the thing that allows the adrenaline to rush my veins. Do not let the world blow you off course.
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Food for thought: Figure out your wind, and create yourself to be a windmill that takes the wind that usually would stop you and let it give you energy and strength to keep moving forward. There are a lot of people in this world that will try to blow out your fire, or smother it, or make it shine less bright. DO…NOT…LET…THEM…

You are the chosen instruments to let this World know the love of Christ. Focus.

Story can be found in Matthew 14:13-34. For those of you who may want to read it in full.