Dear Bruce, I am scared to jump in!

11. January 2008 by BruceSmith.

Dear Bruce,

I am at a place in my life where I need to make a big decision for my future.  My wife and I both have arrived at this place at the same time, and we are bored, frustrated, and unfulfilled in our current careers.  We know there is something more out there, but change would upset everything we know.  We both feel like we know what we should do, but we are scared to death to make such drastic changes at this stage in our lives.  It could mean a move and/or a change in career for both of us.  It would really feel like we are starting all over again at nearly 40 years of age.  How do we decide what to do, and how do we do it?

Eagerly awaiting you advice,

C

C,

You are in a good place!  Yep, a good place.  It may seem like you are in as frustrating a place as you could imagine, but I would like to point you to the story below for some encouragement.  I wrote this some time ago, and think you will find it relevant to your situation.  Step out onto the waters, and watch as you discover that your chaos is heaven sent.

There are moments in our lives when we have to make decisions which lead to major change.  In those moments, amidst what appears to be the promise of total chaos, our only hope is found in the promise of God’s provision for us.  As we look ahead and see waters raging all around us we are tempted to believe our demise is assured.  Yet, some storms, some challenges, some tempests are ordained by God to lead us to brighter futures.  If we will be willing to endure the changes He is leading us to we can take hope in the security of being in His plans for us.  Any other course is, at best, mediocrity.  The life we were meant to live is often uncovered on the surface of uncharted waters.  Read on and find this truth revealed in the life of Peter, a man who dared to do the impossible. He jumped in, and you can do the same!

The Call to Something More: walking on water

What if you could walk on water? Pursuing the “what if” is not easy, but the rewards are worth everything you risk. We often refer to this hypothetical dream as if it has never happened or we refer to it as if only one guy has ever done it. In reality, Jesus was not the only person to have ever pulled this off. Earlier in the book, we looked at the first part of the account, but now let’s look at Matthew’s version of the rest of the story.

 “…and in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, ‘It is a ghost!’ and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.” (Matthew 14:25-29)

 What an experience this must have been. Amidst a major storm, the winds howling, the rain pounding down, and in all likelihood surrounded by waves as tall as Peter stood himself, this man got up his nerve enough to take an enormous risk. He got out of the boat, and walked on water! What an absurd notion for anyone in the real world to even suggest something so stupid. Who did this guy think he was anyway? And if it were not ridiculous enough already to attempt something so bizarre, this guy wanted to try this in the middle of a violent storm. What arrogance!

But was Peter really arrogant, stupid, and over-confident or was he pursuing life as God intended it to be pursued? We get too few big moments in life. What if Howard Schultz would have taken no for an answer when he was first refused in his petitions to join the ranks of Starbucks? What if Mother Theresa had not given her life to the poor?  What if Martin Luther King Jr. had not stood so boldly?  What if the man crippled with palsy had never been carried to Jesus for healing? What happens if we miss the big moments life brings our way, and we don’t venture out in new directions? Do we settle for less? We certainly do.

For those who have never taken a risk on faith in God, they miss the abundant life He offers. The fear of giving up what we know can leave us spiritually crippled in this life, never knowing what it means to live a life of significance. Get out of the boat; take a chance on God. See what He is capable of doing in and with your life. God can and will instill new visions, bigger dreams, and greater clarity in your life when you trust Him for your purposes.

He may call you to things you never imagined, or He may fulfill that desire in you that has yet never been voiced, planned or attempted. He may use you in leadership to help others rebuild homes, cities, countries and lives. He may use you to bring a plan into shape that will help numerous people recapture their lives. Are you willing to take a risk? Are you willing to dive in?

Peter’s venture toward a massive, God-sized risk was not perfectly executed, but it certainly was filled with drama, excitement and an exhilarating experience of the power of God. The story continues to unfold as we read,

 “But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ And when he got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Matthew 14:30-32)

 Peter, a man taking an audacious risk, started out in confidence and strength, and then got distracted by the storm around him, causing him to lose focus and lose sight of his dream to do what had never been done before. In the midst of the storms of our lives, God is calling us to get out of the boat and take a chance on something more. He always wants to pull us beyond ourselves toward bigger things. When we are willing to take a risk on His agenda the unthinkable dream can come into shape. When our eyes focus too much on what life looks like from our vantage point, however, we settle for less, and we begin to sink. We must learn to ask, amidst the winds and waves, what God is calling us to.

As it was for Peter, so it will be with us, there will be moments of fear and distraction. We will not get it right all of the time. Storms will continue to rage around us, and we will feel vulnerable. Thankfully, the Creator looks on us with compassion and love, and extends His reach to us during those moments. God does not take joy in our drowning. Rather, He desires that we walk on the water beside Him with poise, composure, and strength, no matter how big the waves that threaten us.  

What is God calling you to now? Whether you find yourself at this moment amidst great trouble or if you find yourself on top of the world, God’s call is the same. It rains on the just and the unjust, and it is also true that the just and the unjust find success. In either place, God is calling us to know, love and serve Him. The void that exists for those who have gotten more than a life’s share of rain is the same void that exists in the heart of the person that has seen a life of plenty. The call to take a risk on knowing Him remains. The call to risk your life for knowing the life of Christ is the decision by which we will all be measured.

As Saint Augustine suggested long ago, there exists a void in all of us, a God-ordained void that cannot and will not be filled with anything other than Him. We will find no rest until we find our rest in Him. Building a life God’s way entails a release of all that makes us secure and an embrace of a future lived under the gaze of the One who controls the wind and the waves. What if you took that chance? What would your life look like as you stepped out onto those waters? There’s only one way to find out. Don’t leave that risk untried.

Bruce Smith

optimuslife.org

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