Matthew 14:22-33
Introduction
Are you a boat hugger or a water walker? A boat hugger avoids risk, prefers to play it safe, and often walks in unbelief even when God has already spoken. Meanwhile, a water walker chooses to walk by faith, trusting what God said, and takes bold steps even when the situation doesn’t make sense.
Sometimes, when God calls us to move, it can feel like an unfair exchange. We hesitate, thinking that what He’s asking us to give up outweighs what He’s offering in return. But as long as we stay in the boat, we won’t experience the power and freedom of walking over our problems, habits, or fears.
In Matthew 14, Jesus told His disciples to get into the boat. Though some of them were experienced fisherman and likely sensed a storm was coming, they obeyed. Even when we move in obedience, storms can arise. But storms don’t mean we missed God. When the disciples struggled in the storm, Jesus came to them, walking on water. Peter had the courage to speak up, and when Jesus said, “Come,” Peter walked toward Him. But as soon as he focused on the wind, fear took over and he began to sink. Still, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.
When God has made your assignment clear, it will take faith and courage to let go of comfort, fear, and doubt. But rest assured that God will not let you drown. We often believe that God can do anything, but we wrestle with whether He’ll do it for us. The invitation remains the same: let go of the boat, release the doubt, and step onto the water. Your blessing is not in safety; it’s in obedience.
Getting Started
- What’s the biggest leap of faith you’ve ever taken?
- Do you naturally lean more toward playing it safe or taking bold steps of faith?
Let’s Get Personal
- Have you ever felt God calling you to do something that didn’t make sense in the moment? How did you respond?
- Can you think of a time when fear or doubt kept you from moving forward? What might have helped you step out anyway?
- What does “walking on water” look like in your current season of life?
Take the Next Step
- What step can you take this week to step out of your “boat” (comfort zone, mindset, relationship, habit)?
- Pray and ask God to show you where you’ve been clinging to comfort instead of stepping out in faith, and to give you to the courage to trust Him as you take your next step.
- Want to dig deeper? Take a look at the following passages: Matthew 14:22-33; Genesis 12:1-2; John 11:43; Galatians 6:9; Romans 8:11.
Renew Your Mind
And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.
Matthew 14:29
