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. (Matt 14: 22 – 30)
The phrase, to “step out in faith”, probably comes from this occasion. We usually say it when we are thinking of taking risk. For example, “I’m not sure if I’ll get this job I am applying for, but I am going to take a step of faith”. But what is our faith in when we say that?
We know from other stories in the gospels that Jesus loved faith. And still does. He loves faith in him. He praised the centurion for his clear, no-nonsense understanding of Jesus’ authority to heal the sick. And he comforted the woman with the terrible bleeding condition with the words, “Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.” (Matt 9: 22)
But Jesus doesn’t force us to have faith. He waits for it, patiently, to be expressed. He didn’t say to Peter, “come on, join me on the water, You can do it, just try!” He waited for Peter to form his own response to the situation. I think he does the same with us.
Peter didn’t take a risk based on the probabilities of being successful. He didn’t close his eyes, lean his foot down on the surface of the water and hope for the best. He saw what Jesus was doing, spoke to him, formed a plan in his mind, checked it out with him (“Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water”), waited for Jesus to reply, and then, (and only then) he put a foot over edge of the hull, planting it on the choppy waters, and the rest in history.
Peter’s faith was on the Saviour in front of him and The Lord’s word of encouragement to step out. I think there are some important keys here.
First, try to discern what the Lord is doing. Don’t just assume he will bless a risk, if you haven’t worked out what his plans are. Second, when you have a sense of God’s will after prayer and seeking his face, ask him: “Lord, if this is you, please confirm the decision I need to make”. Third, when you have the green light to go, that is, the peace of God to proceed (as long as it involves no disobedience to Scripture), you are ready step out.
Is God calling you to take a step of faith?