Walking on Water

(This is a repost from my old Multiply site.)
 
I took my time reading John Ortberg’s book, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat.  I can read some books in just a few days but I took four months to read this one.  And not because it was boring.  It took me a while to read it because it freaked me out and I just knew it’s what God’s doing in my life now—it’s time to walk on water! 

There were many times when I just had to put the book down, and I even tried to put it back on the shelf, because it was convicting me too much and spoke too much about my own situation. But I finally finished it, and here are some nuggets from the book and my thoughts on his thoughts . . .

In water-walking, there’s always a call.  “God asks an ordinary person to engage in an act of extraordinary trust, that of getting out of the boat.”  Don’t try to do it if God hasn’t called you to—because courage should definitely be coupled by wisdom and discernment.

Aside from the call, there’s always fear.  “God has an inextinguishable habit of asking people to do things that are scary to them.”  But think of the worst thing that can happen if you try, and hopefully you’ll see it’s not so bad after all.  “Failing” or your exaggerated version of what could happen if you screw up is not as bad as staying on the boat when you’re supposed to get out!  Besides, “there is no guarantee that life in the boat is going to be any safer.”  And after that experience, even though Peter did sink a bit, he was still the only one of the disciples who actually did the unthinkable and unexplainable.

We fight the fear with a reassurance of God’s presence, and the decisions that follow will help us to never be the same.  Water-walking will surely change our lives.  When we choose comfort over risk, it becomes a habit and what’s worse, if we don’t heed God’s voice, we will not be doing what He has called us to do.  It’s not worth staying in the boat and miss out on the growth, challenges and opportunities that could come your way if you take a risk and follow God.

The single most striking in Ortberg’s book for sentence me is this: “Unrealized potential is a sin.” He goes on to explain, “Imagine watching all that God might have done with your life if you had let Him.”  I put the book down at that moment and made a decision to live my life—this one life I have to live—the way God wants me to, and if that means new challenges and risks, so be it!

The book has so many more principles that will help you get out of your comfort zone.  For me, the past few months have been some of the most exciting but scary times.  And the challenge continues—I will finally try my hand at teaching in a few weeks and let’s see how that turns out too! 

Thanks so much to my family, friends and mentors who encouraged me, prayed for me and stood with me at this time.  Walking on water is much more fun with a boatful of friends egging me on . . .

But let me egg you on a bit too—what about you—is there an area of your life that maybe God’s calling you to get out of the boat?  What’s holding you back from walking on water and encountering Jesus like never before?

If I were you, I’d try walking on water—there’s nothing like trusting God and experiencing all He has for you!

Hannah's Journey

I haven't blogged anything personal lately (I've been trying to be more consistent blogging here), but I thought I would share some thoughts about Hannah's journey as she asked God for a child and how she responded to that miracle.

• Elkanah was a man who was faithful to the Lord (1 Samuel 1:3 says, "Year after year this man went up from his town to worship and sacrifice to the Lord Almighty . . .") and he loved his wife. I'm not sure why he needed two (I wouldn't want to be the envious and unloved wife!), but he loved Hannah dearly. (1 Samuel 1:5 says, "But to Hannah he gave a double portion because he loved her, and the Lord had closed her womb.")
• I don't understand why the Lord had closed Hannah's womb, but I do know that Hannah's anguish and pain led to a great miracle--after many, many years of waiting, wondering, hoping, getting frustrated, and praying. Hannah's sore spot led her to see God demonstrate His great power in her life. It did not make her bitter, even when she had to wait for so long. Hannah's example of great faith and patience is so commendable!
• We all have a tendency to focus on the one thing we don't have--whether that's a job, husband, child, home, or anything that we know is not inherently bad, but we still fixate on. God never reprimanded Hannah for her desire to have a child, but through Elkanah's statement in 1 Samuel 1:8 ("Hannah, why are you weeping? Why don't you eat? Why are you downhearted? Don't I mean more to you than ten sons?"), He reminds us that we need to appreciate what we do have, even while we wait for what we want. Hannah did not have a son yet, but she did have a loving husband who sought to understand and care for her.  
• Hannah's relationship with God was deeply personal. She did not approach God with a facade of having it all together. Rather, she made everything painfully plain and strikingly honest. "In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:10). She also told Eli, "I was pouring out my soul to the Lord" (1 Samuel 1:15). Notice that God never held the bitterness of Hannah's soul against her. When we are tempted to keep up appearances, we may look good but we could actually be wasting away inside. God listens and He cares, and Hannah knew that. Hannah did not keep up appearances just so that people wouldn't talk about her--she cared more about being honest with God and pleading for her miracle. She asked, and she asked boldly.
• Eli blessed Hannah with peace, and when she went away she was no longer sad (1 Samuel 1:17,18 says: "Eli answered, 'Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him.' She said, 'May your servant find favor in your eyes.' Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.") The Message version even says that Hannah's face was radiant after she prayed. God's peace came before Hannah's circumstances changed and before her situation was resolved. Was Hannah already pregnant? No. Did she really know God was going to answer her prayer and give her a son? No. Then why the peace? Our human minds can't explain this, but God gives peace that transcends situations, emotions, and questions. One of the greatest blessings in trials and challenges is knowing that God's grace and peace is abundant and He carries you through those circumstances. 
• God always comes through. He came through for Hannah, and He will come through for us according to His purpose and will, and in His perfect timing. The Message version of 1 Samuel 1:19 says, "And God began making the necessary arrangements in response to what she had said." Hannah was persistent to ask, and God was faithful to answer.
• I love how Hannah glorified God when He answered her prayers. Often times, we forget God's hand when we see God's gift, but Hannah did not. She shared God's faithfulness to her to Eli and she reaffirmed her confidence, trust, and faith in God (1 Samuel 1:26-2:10). 

Hannah's journey was difficult, but she never gave up. I pray the same for us, that we will wait to see God fulfill every promise He has made to us, because He is faithful and He will do it!