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Walking on water…

Tonight I was driving home from having dinner with my sweet girlfriends (YES! I actually manage to get OUT for my girls…thank you Tammy and Kelly for a much needed night of laughter!), and I was praying in the quite as I drove home–one of those times when you just sense the presence of the Lord speaking to your heart was at hand.

Do you ever have those seasons of life…or opportunities placed on your heart–that just seem so big…too big for YOU to actually bear? I was telling the Lord that I WANT to live for Him. I really want to live the GOSPEL…I mean REALLY live the gospel. I want to have a KINGDOM perspective…to actively live out Jesus calling me and our following Him–no matter the cost…because REALLY–isn’t that what really matters?

But some times–Kingdom living feels scary.

Whether it’s because it’s not the norm–whether it’s because the world around you might think you are crazy…whether you don’t feel equipped–it just feels scary…so unpredictable, unknown and UNSAFE.

If you know me–you know I adore The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe series by C.S. Lewis. There’s a part in that particular book where Lucy asks if Aslan (representing Jesus) is safe-and Mrs. Beaver quickly responds that of course He isn’t safe–but He is good. There is another part in the book that I love the picture it brings to mind…

“Aslan?” said Mr. Beaver. “Why, don’t you know? He’s the King. He’s the Lord of the whole wood, but not often here, you understand. Never in my time or my father’s time. But the word has reached us that he has come back. He is in Narnia at this moment. He’ll settle the White Queen all right. It is he, not you, that will save Mr. Tumnus.”

“Is—is he a man?” asked Lucy.

“Aslan a man!” Mr. Beaver said sternly. “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion—the Lion, the great Lion.”

“Ooh!” said Susan, “I’d thought he was a man. Is he—quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”

“That you will, dearie, and no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver; “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”

There are so many part of this dialogue that I love. I love that Mr. Beaver reminds Lucy that it will be ASLAN who saves Mr.Tumnus–NOT her. I can do no good thing without Him. Whatever He asks me to do–will NOT be ME doing it…IT WILL BE HIM. And I especially love how Mrs. Beaver prepares Lucy–INDEED she’ll be nervous to be in Aslan’s presence! And I believe when we LIVE in His presence–if we are serving an ALMIGHTY God–He will INDEED ask us to follow Him into things that will have our knees knocking together too.

Doesn’t it make SENSE that if are knees are going to shake in His presense–then they will most definitely shake as we follow Him to waters only that He could walk on?

As I drove home, I just started praying…and then my praying turned to singing. And as I sang to Him…I no longer was I worried…or fearful…OR did I even have a clear answer what He really wanted me to do–BUT without realizing it I was coming closer to Him, and I had a VERY clear picture in my mind as I sang…

With His reached out hand in my mind–I also pictured water all around ME as I sat in a boat in the middle of the water…and really–without my following Him…I was going no where. No matter how content or perfect or peaceful I thought my life was sitting there–without taking His hand and following Him…I could very well sit right there in that boat…forever. Or–I could take His hand with knees shaking…and walk on water with Him….

This is an AMAZING piece of scripture to read through a few times…and just SOAK in:

{Matthew 14:22-32}

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

Shortly before dawn 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.”

When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

I couldn’t wait to get home to read this scripture as I knew the Lord wanted to teach or show me something in it. For each of us, it may be different–but I really do sense the Lord calling many believers to be a part of the new generation of Christians who radically take His hand WHERE ever He calls. For many of us–His calling will look as CRAZY as walking on water. In our calling–we may even be quick to get out of the boat and walk toward Him, but as we allow words of discouragement, unknowns and fears to creep in–our hearts and spirits…and the JOY of our calling…will begin to sink if and when we doubt His call. {We can absolutely doubt OUR strength–because it will NOT be anything of us to carry us on water…but HIS alone.}

But when we doubt…and feel our hearts sink…

There is hope.

Call out to Jesus.

Peter did.

SURE–we hoped he would never doubt in that story–but he did.

And so often, so do we.

It’s OKAY…because He understands–and He promises to never leave or forsake you.

And you have to love how quickly Jesus came.

IMMEDIATELY.

He caught him, He carried him–and God would be the one to work the wonders. It was just like Aslan who would be the one to heal Mr. Tumnus…it will be HIM doing the miracles…healing others, bringing children into families, caring for the needs of the poor and needy, loving dispite fatique…THROUGH us. Maybe Jesus isn’t really asking YOU to do anything at all–other than simply WALK toward Him…to take His hand–and to trust Him.

Where your heart is–so your treasure is…and Oh…to live a life living for the Kingdom of Heaven rather than ourselves on Earth. This life, let us remember, is a BLINK in the eyes of eternity–and I want to have the courage to take His hand and follow Him…and to walk on water no matter the cost.

Praying for a generation of believers that live seeing the BIG picture. I so want to follow Him as I see His arm stretching out. Don’t you??

Your sister in Christ,

Andrea

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Rory Cookman - June 10, 2011 - 2:06 am

You read my mind, er, rather you wrote my heart tonight! I just finished publishing a post along similar lines, just trying to lay out what God is doing in my heart and then I clicked over and read this (and you said it so much better than I ever could have)–so cool when you see that God is doing a BIG PICTURE work in the lives of believers. I’d totally link you (because I think it only fair since I read your blog that you have access to my life as well) but it’s set to private for a few reasons…of course I’d be glad to still email you an invite if you wanted, but most of all just wanted you to know what a blessing your heart and words are in my life even though we’ve never met. Feels like we could be sisters.:)

Love to you and your fam,

Rory
woosterweester@aol.com

Kelly - June 10, 2011 - 7:24 am

I just love those precious moments with Jesus! I, TOO, just wrote a post on Jesus walking on the water last WEEK! I love how He will take us back to a certain passage just to really drive it home, and I LOVE what He gave to YOU to pass back on to ME! 🙂 Your “visuals” were great! Thanks or sharing!!!

Kim - June 10, 2011 - 8:49 am

How I’d love to share a girls not out dinner date with you! I feel like we could talk for hours. I love the Narina Series so much my daughter is named LUCY. And I too have posted on the layers of lessons surrounding that very section of scripture.
Love & Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim

Elle J - June 10, 2011 - 10:20 am

I needed this post desperately. Our paths look a little different, but as I read – it spoke to me greatly, because we are both Walking toward Him for what He’s called for us to do. Different paths coming from the same heart for Him and His will for us. Thank you, Friend!!! Bookmarking this post for future reminders. =) xo

Brantley - June 10, 2011 - 2:31 pm

WOW! WOW! WOW! So true… everything said! Makes me tear up reading this post, thank you Andrea! We definitely all need to be reminded!

marci - June 10, 2011 - 4:49 pm

Beautiful. I read the full series aloud to Trey and Shockley from the Magicians Nephew and onward. I carry a mustard seed either in real life or in my mind. That is all that God requires of my faith and sometimes I don’t even have that BUT I look at the teeny tiny etsy bity mustard seed and swallow hard and ask God to accept just that …He does magic with just that little bit and grows that faith. Recently at Hope Lodge serving cancer patients I shared the mustard seed. It brought out some hidden mustard seeds that people had on them….when life is going great we tend to not step out on the water ,to exercise true faith in action…but,when we feel totally out of control…sweet Jesus is holding us over the water. He is doing great things with you,Andrea. Keep it going girl. You are helping to build the kingdom of God.Blessings and Pax,m

Dawn - June 10, 2011 - 7:34 pm

AMEN- I DO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for this encouraging post!

Kandra - June 12, 2011 - 8:47 am

Your heart is magnificent. I greatly admire your faith and your ability to convey words from the Lord in a way that causes me to see more clearly what HIS desires are for my life and my family. I was struggling with knowing for certain what His plan was…and now I know it was just doubt trying to creep in.

Love you friend…thanks for being obedient in sharing your heart with others. You are used daily.