Steppin’ Out When the Wind Starts Howlin’

Well, now, friend, come on off this front porch and out o’ the yard to be wanderin’ with me down to the edge of this pond where the bullfrogs are croakin’ like they are auditionin’ for a gospel quartet and the breeze is kickin’ up just enough to make the cattails sway like they are sayin’, “Amen.” Let’s stand a spell right here where the ripplin’ water reminds us of a night long ago when Peter went an’ stepped out of a boat and onto the waves right in the water. Matthew 14:30 says, “But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.” An’ right there in the middle of that storm, Peter was livin’ out the truth of Isaiah 41:10 where the Lord says, “Fear thou not, for I am with thee.” Jesus was standin’ on that water before Peter ever took a step, ready to uphold him with the right hand of His righteousness. Bless his lil’ ol’ heart, Peter started out as bold as an ol’ rooster throwin’ back his head an’ crowin’ for all he’s worth at sunrise, but the minute he done looked at that wind, he plumb sank like a lil’ rock that was tossed by a mischievous ol’ raccoon.

Now, friend, I declare, that one lil’ ol’ word Jesus spoke, “Come,” carried the same real strong power that God used when He spoke the whole world into bein’. John 1:3 says, “All things were made by Him,” so when He told Peter to come, that word had enough anointin’ right in it to hold a grown man up on top of a stormy sea. And it’s sho’-nuff the same with us. Any word God speaks carries the full power of God to fulfill itself if we’ll just believe it and step right on out on it. The problem is, we get to lookin’ at the wind. We get to thinkin’ God’s power is for everybody else but us. We doubt, and when we doubt, we plumb have to do without. Faith releases what God already placed in His word, but fear shuts it down quicker than a barn door slammin’ in a windstorm.

But let me tell you somethin’. Peter may have sunk, but he also walked on water. Eleven other fellas stayed in the boat clutchin’ the sides like nervous chicken hens on a real windy day. Peter got out. Peter tried. Peter trusted. An’ that’s what God is askin’ from us. Sometimes you have to leave the safety of your natural resources, step out of your comfortable little boat, and put yourself in a place where only a miracle will be holdin’ you up. That’s where faith grows legs. That’s where trust gets real. That’s where Jesus shows you He meant every word He ever spoke.

God ain’t no respecter of persons. Romans 2:11 says so plain as day. Any of those disciples could have walked on water if they had asked and stepped out. An’, friend, you can walk on whatever waves are crashin’ in your life if you’ll believe the word God has spoken to you and then git to actin’ on it. His word ain’t lackin’ power. It’s just waitin’ on your cooperation.

Father, give me the courage to step out on Your word. Help me trust Your voice more than the wind around me. Strengthen my faith so I can walk where You call me. Hold me up when I feel weak, and let my life show Your power. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Well, now, friend, as you git to moseyin’ on from this spot and shake the clingin’ bits of country off your boots, don’t you be forgetting that boats can feel real safe, but miracles can be happenin’ on the water. Winds may git to howlin’, but Jesus still says, “Come.” An’ when you step out in faith, even them there lil’ ol’ box turtles sunnin’ on the log over there might lift their heads like they purely know you’re ‘bout to see somethin’ mighty powerful comin’ straight from the Lord Himself.

With joy,

Gwen