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Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters." He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Matthew 14:28'31 WEB.

Every Christian knows that Jesus walked on water, but many do not know that Peter did. One night Jesus and Peter walked on water together. The other eleven disciples remained in the safety of the boat. Though Peter was willing to take the risk, when he stepped out on the water to come to Jesus, terrible doubt and fear came over him, causing him to sink.

Peter cried, "Lord, save me!" and Jesus immediately took hold of him. Then they walked back to the boat together. Peter later had to face that fear again when he denied knowing Jesus three times.

Peter had faults, doubts, and fears, but he got out of the boat and walked on water, while the others thought he was crazy. Peter was still useable by God even though he had these problems, as long he did not let those problems hold him back. As soon as Peter started listening to the wrong voices in his head, he began to sink.

God will use you right now, just as you are. Yes, He loves you too much to leave you like that, and He will change your life and desires, but those are good things. In my experience, God usually works on one thing at a time, probably because I tend to focus on one thing.

We all know what that one thing is when it repeatedly comes to our mind, and every sermon we hear seems to touch on it. Each time you open your Bible, you find scripture on it. Work with Him. Like a splinter in your finger, you will feel better if you let Him get it out.

I have felt unqualified for most of my life because God intentionally pushes me into deeper and more profound things. Each time that I catch up and start to feel confident about something, He just smiles and pulls me into deeper water, then I have to cry out for His help again. He puts me into situations where there is no one to call on but the Holy Spirit.

A lot of this was to prepare me for the work we are doing today, but even now, He continues to push me into deeper things. It seems that I am always near the edge, rarely confident or competent in what I am doing. After decades, it has become normal. So we need to build a load balancing Linux mail server farm? Ok... So we need to write some original songs to stream at church? Ok'

The only thing that I am confident of anymore is this: If God brings you to it, He will get you through it. It really does not matter what you are facing. He will equip you on the fly and make you shine as long as you do not let fear and doubt hold you back. If you step out on the water, He will make it support you. Too many stay in the boat's safety, so they do not have to risk looking like a fool. Be willing to look like a fool if that is what He requires.

The Lord still calls those who are willing to leave the boat's safety and take a risk. But when you step out in faith, doubt and fear are going to attack your mind. Expect this. It happens to me all the time. If you step out and start sinking, don't panic, just cry out to the Lord Jesus like Peter. He is not going to let you drown. If you begin to say that you cannot do this before you even start, you are already defeated and will sink just like Peter did. When Jesus told Peter to "Come!" everything he needed to accomplish the task came along with it.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am holding on to You! Please help me stay the course, for I put my trust in You today. Lead me into all that You have for me. Take me into the deeper water. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presence and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link: Ladies in Distress

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