I finished a great book yesterday by Mark Batterson and Richard Foth called A Trip Around the Sun. 

This book was a collection of stories and godly wisdom on how to live a more adventurous life. I didn’t want to put it down but often had to with a 1 month old baby to enjoy and care for. 

One of my big take aways from the book has to do with taking chances (anyone who knows me understands that I am not a risk taker). Mark wrote something along the lines of you will never walk on water if you don’t step out of the boat. (I don’t know the exact quote because it’s hard to hold a sleeping baby, read, and underline passages that you love.) I love the boat, the safe spot, my comfort zone. I don’t like the unknown, unplanned, or risks outside of the boat. Mark is referencing Jesus’ and Peter’s story of walking on the water. 

“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 ‭NIV‬‬

I would never have the courage to step out of the boat but as I have thought about Mark’s reference this week I realized I have in certain ways. Kyle and I stepped out of the boat when we left our home church to take a ministry job at ATCO. We stepped out when we both answered the call to go to St. Vincent on mission not knowing how it would be financed. We stepped out when we realized God was leading us to do fertility treatments. Our boat has been left more times than I realized until God showed me how often Jesus had told us to come. 

I highly recommend this book and would encourage you to think about how Jesus has called you to come onto the waters, step out of the boat, leave your comfort zone.