Beyond BeliefSample

Even if you've never been skydiving, you can imagine what it's like. You're in the back of an airplane with a parachute strapped to your back. You don't really have a whole lot to do. Just take one little step out of the plane and then, when you're ready, pull the cord that releases the parachute. It's pretty simple, right? Too bad simple and easy don't mean the same thing. Because anybody who's ever been skydiving will tell you: that little step might just be the hardest thing you ever do.

When Peter and the disciples were on a little boat trip, Jesus decided to meet them in the middle of the lake by walking across the water. Peter saw Jesus and decided he wanted to try too, so Jesus told him to give it a shot.

Peter walking on water is a little bit like skydiving. In theory, it was just taking a few steps to go meet Jesus. But obviously, it was also a lot more than that. Peter had to actually get out of the boat. Simple? Sure. Easy? No way.

But that's what following Jesus is like. Even when you've got questions and doubts about your faith, God still calls you to get out of the boat and walk towards Jesus on water. As Peter learned, when you're keeping your eyes on Jesus, the storms of life are a lot more manageable. The hardest part for most of us is taking that first step.