SAYING BYE TO CERTAINTY

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR

The time when major shifts happen. Like graduating and shifting from childish thinking and behavior to adulting. Or getting married and shifting from life as a party of one to considering another before yourself.

And the truth is, though these changes have been part of our cultural norms for centuries, they’re still seismic in their effect.

MAJOR CHANGE IS TRAUMATIC!

And the most traumatizing part is large-scale change doesn’t wait for you to be “ready.”

Graduating high school at 18 doesn’t mean you’re ready to go off to college—even if you want to. You didn’t realize how attached you’d become to the comfort and security of home and family till you were expected to launch into the unknown with only more responsibility and a vague idea of what you want to do with your life.

Marriage is no different. You go from living focused on your hopes and dreams to tying yours to someone else’s with no formula for success and no guarantee of “till death do us part.”

And it’s tempting to stay in the boat of safe and familiar.

I HAVE A GOOD THING GOING

Sure, you can ease your way into the college rigor by spending a couple of years in community college before transferring to a four-year university. And yes, you can enjoy the single life a little longer before getting married. Nothing wrong with either.

But if Jesus is calling you into the unknown, you have to be prepared to move toward Him at the sacrifice of certainty.

I’M NOT SURE I WANT TO RISK IT

You find that college, that fiancé, that promotion, that career change intriguing, but you’d love some assurances.

Will I connect with good people while developing and executing a vision for my future or will I feel lost, alone, and homesick?

Is this person as amazing as they seem? And can Jesus be the tie that binds us for better or worse or should I stay with the person I know best—me?

I don’t know. I’m pretty good at what I do now. What if I stretch myself, take on more responsibility and it feels awkward? What if I fail? Maybe I should just stick with what I know.

But the real dilemma is deciding between staying with what you know and moving out on what God said.

Do you trust the Lord enough to say bye to certainty for another level of the amazing life He came for you to live?

HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT?

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

 “Come,” he said.

Matthew 14:28-29, NIV

A fisherman is comfortable in a boat. He knows it’s mechanics. He understands it’s the distribution of its mass that allows the boat to float in water.

So, seeing someone walk on water is mind-boggling!

How are you walking on water when people have to lie still just to float? Your weight isn’t dispersed standing up. You should be sinking!

Staying in the certainty of his boat makes sense. But when Peter saw Jesus walking on water, intrigued, he asked Jesus, “If that’s you, bid me come!” And Jesus responded, “Come!”

STEP OUT ON THE WORD

And on the stability of His word, not the water, Peter walked toward Jesus.

Peter didn’t walk because he understood the physics behind it or because Jesus explained how it worked or because Peter was assured of success.

Peter walked on water because of the integrity of who invited him into the unknown.

I don’t know where Jesus is inviting you to meet Him, but I’m sure the thought of it puts a lump in your throat. But instead of considering what He’s asking of you, consider who is asking you.

Is His integrity questionable? Can He fail? Is there any place safer than moving toward Jesus?

If you answered ‘no’ to all those questions, it sounds like you’re ready to walk on water—I mean His Word.

I’m rooting for you! See you out there on the water…

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IF YOU’RE A MOM AND YOU’RE TIRED OF PRETENDING…