Getting Your Feet Wet in Faith
Have you ever felt God calling you to do something that seemed impossible? Something that required you to leave your comfort zone and step out in faith? That's exactly what God is asking of us today - to get our feet wet and trust Him to do the impossible in our lives.
The Call to Step Out
As I was studying the book of Joshua recently, I was struck by how God called Joshua to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land. In Joshua 3:7-8, we read:
"And the Lord said to Joshua, 'This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you have come to the edge of the water of Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.'"
God was calling Joshua and the priests to literally get their feet wet - to step into the Jordan River before it had parted. This took tremendous faith and courage. But that's exactly what God is asking of us today.
Sometimes, you know, people can lead you up to the promise, but it's going to take other people to get you over to the promise. There's a lot of people that you've encountered along the way in faith that has helped you to get to this point. But I believe that God has called me to be the Joshua in your life to help you take yourself to the next dimension in life.
Learning God's Ways and Nature
During the waiting period, God isn't just preparing the promise – He's preparing us. Bishop Chatham emphasizes:
"Abraham had to learn the ways of God and the nature of God."
This learning process often involves challenges and tests of faith. But these experiences are designed to deepen our relationship with God and build our character. As we navigate these tests, we begin to understand God's nature more fully and trust His ways more completely.
Following Examples of Faith
Now, you might be wondering - who should I follow? Whose example should I look to as I step out in faith? The Bible gives us clear guidance on this in Hebrews 13:7:
"Remember those who have ruled over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct."
Notice it doesn't say to blindly follow a person - it says to follow their faith. Look for people who are living out what they preach, whose lives demonstrate the fruit of walking with God. As Jesus said in John 5:19, "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner."
We need to follow the example of those who are following Christ. And as we do, we'll find ourselves called to step out of our comfort zones and do things we never thought possible.
Peter's Bold Step of Faith
One of my favorite examples of stepping out in faith is Peter walking on water. We read about this in Matthew 14:28-29:
"And Peter answered Him and said, 'Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.' So He said, 'Come.' And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus."
Now, I know what you're thinking - but he sank! I'm not even going to point that out because that's where you want to go. But where I'm going with this is, is that at least, at least he had the nerve to do what everybody else wasn't doing.
You can't walk on water without getting your feet wet. You can't do anything different from what God is doing unless you get your feet wet. See, for everybody back in the boat, they were telling him not to go. They were telling him he couldn't do it. But Peter had enough sense to know whose faith to follow.
Overcoming Fear and Failure
Now, I know some of you might be feeling afraid to step out. Maybe you've tried before and failed. Let me encourage you with the story of Abraham Lincoln. Here was a man who faced tremendous setbacks:
At age 24, his fiancée died
At 26, he married and had a child, but the child died
He ran for the US Senate and lost
He had a nervous breakdown
He ran for office again and lost
Another child died
He ran again for public office and finally won
Lincoln went on to become one of the greatest presidents in US history, leading the country through its darkest hour. What am I saying? I'm saying that you might, along the way, encounter some failures. But failure is not a person. Failure is an event. You may sometimes feel like you're losing your mind. You're gonna lose loved ones along the way, but I promise you're gonna make it if you keep moving forward.
Putting It Into Practice: Getting Your Feet Wet
So how do we apply this in our lives today? Here are some practical steps:
Identify where God is calling you to step out in faith. Is there a ministry He's calling you to start? A person He's asking you to forgive? A leap of faith in your career?
Look for godly examples to follow. Who in your life demonstrates the kind of faith you want to emulate?
Take that first step. Remember, Peter couldn't walk on water until he got out of the boat. What's your first step of obedience?
Don't let past failures hold you back. Like Peter in John 13:8-9, let Jesus wash you clean and give you a fresh start.
Keep pressing forward. As you step out in faith, you'll find the waters getting deeper, just like Ezekiel's vision in Ezekiel 47. Don't stop at ankle-deep - press on until you're swimming in God's purposes for your life.
Remember, God is calling you to greater things. He's ready to bless you, but He can't bless you where you are in your comfort zone. You've got to get out of the boat and do something different than what you've already done. You've got to make sure that you're doing what God said to do. And when you do, He'll bless you beyond your wildest dreams.
So today, I challenge you: Get your feet wet. Step out in faith. And watch what God will do through you.
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