Risky business
In the past year I’ve worked out one of my greatest weaknesses – I’m not brave enough, or in other words, I’m a coward.
Let me clarify, when I’m within my comfort zones, feeling nice and safe with what’s going on in my life then I feel like I’m the proverbial knight in shining armour – ready to take on all comers. But knock me off balance, take me away from what I’m comfortable with and I start doubting myself, my capabilities, what I’m all about and as a Christian I’ll make the mistake of doubting God and his plans for me.
This last year has seen a lot of change in my life, more than I think I can handle sometimes. Coming away from my life in London, then away from my parents, now moving to another part of the country, new job, new people and here I am feeling scared and once again doubting, to say I am out of my comfort zone would be an understatement (the zone is a blur to me!).
Last Sunday I was reminded of an important truth in the Christian faith – and am so glad of it…
I have, on many occasions, heard that the safest place to be is at the centre of God’s will – in other words being totally open to his leading, whatever that means for your life. I’d like to challenge that and say that actually being at the centre of Gods will is the most dangerous place to be, it’s risky.
During the fourth watch of the night, 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 14:25-33)
This is risk taking in the extreme!
I always feel Peter gets a bad press here, remembered for having ‘little faith’. But notice that he is so taken up with Jesus that he asks him to call him out onto the water – his eyes were firmly fixed on Christ and because his focus was so, he wanted to take the risk.
Of course we mustn’t run away with the idea that taking a risk for Christ will be pain free, otherwise it wouldn’t be a risk! We are called out of our comfort zones to do something for Jesus, we are asked in our relationship with Christ to be obedient.
Yes we will get it wrong, we will take our eyes off of Jesus. We will doubt and be scared and we will start sinking. He of course knows these things about us. What matters is that I am walking toward Jesus, whose hand is held toward me, stretched out in invitation, ready to catch me should I fall.
So I make my move, I believe it is what the Lord wants me to do, though I feel I can’t handle it I will take the risk, out of my comfort zone onto the water.
“Here I am Lord, what would you have me do?”
