Faith Includes Some Fear!

I'll be away for the next few days in Biloxi speaking at a conference. I'm looking forward to seeing the Gulf from my hotel room. I love to scan the waters for dolphins playing close to shore and seeing the lights of the shrimp boats at night.

Every time I go to the coast, I think about Peter's walk on the water. You know that story pretty well, I'm sure and it's one of my favorites because it includes a weather event. But it's not just a picture of one of Jesus' miracles, but is a perfect example of belief in action and risky faith.

One blustery night the disciples were sailing the Sea of Galilee through a storm. Suddenly a strange figure appeared walking on the waves and the men were sure it was a ghost! But Jesus told them in Matthew 14:27, "It is I; do not be afraid." At that point, Peter gets an idea. He said to Jesus in verse 28-29, "Lord, it if is You, command me to come to You on the water. So Jesus said, 'Come'. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus."

What a risky step, literally! Interesting, isn't it, that everyone else in the boat stayed put? They had all spent months and years with Jesus, seen the same miracles and they even listened to the same teachings. But only Peter took a risk of faith, and only Peter experienced a miracle. In spite of Peter's heart-pounding fear, Peter stepped out in proactive dependence upon God alone, believing that his faith would bridge the gap between the boat and Jesus. And when Jesus bridged that gap with a miracle, everyone else in the boat "worshipped Jesus saying, 'Truly You are the Son of God".

I don't doubt that Peter was probably walking on water with a little bit of fear inside. Who in their right mind would try such a thing? Many times, our usage of faith does include a certain amount of fear. We are human and I suspect our fear doesn't catch God by surprise!

But if you and I want a life where God works through us in supernatural ways whenever He chooses, we must take action. We must exercise our faith. Why? Because there is a direct connection between what we initiate with faith and how God responds with His supernatural power.