I’ve had a song stuck in my head this week. Not in an annoying stuck in my head kind of way… not in a nagging kind of way… but as a gentle nudging… perhaps like a faint soundtrack behind a powerful moment in a movie.

Sometimes I cannot figure out the rhyme or reason behind the things that get stuck in my head. But this is different. As we have SPLASH! Campers here at Camp Vick, I was choosing scripture for evening Chapel that was “water” themed (Jesus calms the storm, Jesus’ baptism, Moses parting the Red Sea, Jesus walking on water). As I narrowed in on Matthew 14 for Monday night this song was on my heart.

Here’s the thing: I like music but I don’t often listen to it or sing out loud.

This has been different.

And that’s a good thing.

The words of this song echo in my head, I find myself humming the tune, even singing refrains throughout my day… because God is working on me through this song and scripture.

Are you familiar? Take a read here.

This is one (of many… oh so many) scriptures that speaks deeply to me. As I read it, I can picture the events… and I am ASTOUNDED. I cannot really imagine what it would have been like to be the disciples, miles into their journey, struggling against the wind and the waves… frightened…

And there comes Jesus…

Walking on the water.

I mean, here’s the thing, we’ve read or heard this story so often I think it has lost its “shock” value, we’ve become so familiar we no longer see how miraculous this moment was… but try this:

Sit pool side, lake side, in a boat… put your feet over the edge, dangling in even and really contemplate what it would be like to see someone walking toward you upon the water.

And then…

Imagine being bold enough, brave enough, trusting enough to have been Peter in that moment and ask Jesus to call you to walk to him upon that very water.

Cause that’s what Peter asked.

Jesus called.

And Peter upon that water did walk.

“You call me out upon the waters; The great unknown where feet may fail”

See because feet… feet have no strength upon the water… they CANNOT stand on their own upon the water.

“And there I find You in the mystery; In oceans deep; My faith will stand”

In response to Jesus’ call, Peter’s faith sure did stand.

And then he faltered. We could look down upon Peter for this. I mean, come on, he ASKED for this and Jesus gave him what he asked for… how did his faith waiver then? We could look at it this way… but I really can’t… because I can see it… I can see the wind and the waves… I can feel Peter’s fear…

Peter did something to be noted in that terrifying moment.

“Save me, Lord!” he shouted.

And save Jesus did as he (IMMEDIATELY) reached out and grabbed Peter.

“And I will call upon Your name; And keep my eyes above the waves; When oceans rise; My soul will rest in Your embrace; For I am Yours and You are mine”

When Peter chose to step out on that water, chose to put his feet over the side, stand up and let go… well, he really was stepping out onto the “great unknown.” And MANY times we too face the opportunity to step out into the unknown. Maybe you even see/feel Jesus calling you, “Come.”

Will you?

Will you take that step of faith?

Often fear of failure prevents us from even taking the first steps. We need to remember that God has never failed and he won’t start now! Train your heart to trust what your mind knows: God is faithful and where he has called us he will lead, where he leads us he will give us what we need to endure, and when we falter and call upon him he will rescue.

When the winds and those waves rise around you, that, that is the moment for you to call upon His name… keep your “eyes above the waves” and know his “sovereign hand” will be your guide.

Today… right now… will you join me in praying this?

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine

Friends, let us follow him as he calls us. When we don’t know if God has called us somewhere or to something, ask that if it really is him that he would call us to come… and when he calls, let us have faith enough to follow… and should our faith be found to be lacking and our doubts begin rising, let us be people who call out to our Savior for rescue.

Let’s be brave. Let’s be faithful.

I am thinking of you friends, wondering where God is calling us (me and you) to follow His call into the great unknown. As I said, this song has been “playing” in my life like the gentle soundtrack building during a powerful moment in my life. How about you?

~Jillene