Are You Certain, God? (step out in faith)

When we step out in faith, it won’t be perfect, but it will be transformational.

When we step out in faith, it won't be perfect, but it will be transformational. Click To Tweet

Changed

The minutes ticked by, the curser taunting me with each blink. “I’ll just read it through one more time,” I promised myself. Two hours later, I finally hit send on my first blog post, my heart pounding a rhythm in time with the clock. 

In beginning a blog, I had just said a hesitant yes to the Lord’s calling. A decade later, I continue to question whether my writing had much impact on others. But I do know, that “yes” (and all the subsequent yes’s I whispered to God) changed me. 

As Christians, God calls each of us to step out in faith. That looks different from person to person, and I can’t tell you which direction He’s calling you. That’s between you and Him. 

But I can encourage you to be His willing vessel when He reveals the next step: to say “yes” when “no” wants to take root. To hit that button even when your heart won’t stop pounding. To let yourself be transformed as you step out in faith. 

Imperfect Steps Lead Somewhere

At times our faith walk will be a beautiful thing of surrender. But more times than I care to admit, I’ve struggled with uncertainty when sensing Him asking something of me. 

Is that what You really want me to do? Am I sensing Your direction correctly? 

And that’s okay as long as we keep offering those tremulous yes’s…like the Apostle Peter did. 

Unlike the Old Testament patriarch Abraham, who didn’t seem to question God when asked to sacrifice his son Isaac (Genesis 22), Peter hesitated. He doubted and questioned. He said stupid things and did even “stupider” things. Like me!

Yet God kept calling, and Peter kept answering…affirmatively, albeit imperfectly. And He kept walking with the Lord into the deep.

Each time Peter agreed to step out in faith, something miraculous happened. He was transformed and started acting more like Jesus. He began to question less and follow more.

Transformation

Each time the “Rock” Simon Peter whispered the words, “but if you say so, (Luke 5:5),” he was honed and carved into a clearer likeness of His Savior.

As He did with Peter and the other apostles, God beckons us, “Come, follow me.” He asks us to follow Him into the unknown, out of our comfort zone. He asks us to walk with Him into the deep, into places we don’t understand and can’t see. And it doesn’t matter whether we think it’s a foolish place to go.

Because when we say “yes” to God, it’s not about going to a certain place; it’s about joining with Jesus. The going isn’t about where we go, but what happens to us as we do.

When we say 'yes' to God, it's not about going to a certain place; it's about joining with Jesus. The going isn't about where we go, but what happens to us as we do. Click To Tweet

Step Out in Faith

Like Simon Peter, in answering, “but if You say so,” we’re practicing stepping out in faith. With each hesitant step onto the surface of the deep, we’re learning to trust God’s provisions. And in the process, we become a little more like Jesus.

Now that’s worth saying “yes” to!

“Master,” Simon replied, “we’ve worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I’ll let down the nets” (Luke 5:5). 

Reflections: When have you said a hesitant yes to God’s calling? Did it work out exactly as you thought it would? How have you been transformed by that act of obedience? 

By His grace ≈

Julie