“Edge of the Boat” Matthew 14:22-33

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.

Peter looks over the edge of the boat and pauses. What will he do? Did he take Jesus at His word and do what no human has ever done before, or allow the possibilities of failure, worries, and fear win him over?

Have you ever thought about how Jesus interrupted the disciples in the boat that night? The disciples were in the boat being tossed around by the waves doing their best to keep on course. They needed, wanted, had to reach the other side. The chaos of the waves and what they were trying to do was enough to keep them busy.

Then… they see a ghost. No wait, it is Jesus. Now he is telling Peter to get out of a perfectly good boat. They don’t have time for this! They have to keep this boat moving toward land. There is too much chaos. The others in the boat were just trying to do their job on the boat, not encourage Peter to take his plunge.

But then Peter abandoned his duty and went over the edge.

We are plowing through life, busy with our duties, trying to just stay on course and maneuver the storms. Then we are interrupted and have an encounter with the Almighty and it shakes us to the core. We hear the call to stop and jump. “I don’t have time for this… I have to keep moving and stay on course. I don’t have time for distractions or interruptions.”

Too many times we stand on the boat, looking over the edge, hearing the call from the Wave-maker, telling us to trust Him and jump. What do we do with this call to stray from the path of our own making?

No one likes to be interrupted. We have our plans and lists; the things we want to do and the things that need to get done. Sometimes, right in the middle of an ordinary day, God has other plans.

So what do we do with this devotion?

The scriptures are filled with God interrupting people as they go along their way; Abram, Moses at the bush, Mary the mother of Jesus, woman at the well, Paul on the way to Damascus.

Can you recall when God interrupted your life? If you are a believer, then your salvation experience was a huge divine interruption. Many times we fail to remember the many times that God has moved and changed our direction. Can you think of a time when an interruption turned into something really beautiful? Take time right now and write out the times that God interrupted your life.

Now, the part you have been dreading! Where is God calling you to get out of the boat and to trust Him? You have your plans and don’t want them changed, but you know God wants you to take a leap of faith.

Write down at least 2 areas where God is calling you to trust Him.

Lastly, share this conversation with someone. Pray for one another that you won’t be like one of the 11 disciples that never walked on the water; those who were too busy with their destination and worries, that they missed something powerful and amazing.