““Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith,[j] why did you doubt?” Matthew 14:27-31
Jesus’ ask is simple – just one small step. Think about it…just one step is al it takes. He pointed at Peter, “follow Me”. And Peter stepped off to follow.
Later, during a storm, Jesus told Peter step out and he walked on the water. And again, Peter receives the Spirit and steps out of the upper room. All just one small step. Small steps that clearly evolved and grew to change the world – with the Holy Spirit.
What has God asked of me? Just one step…and learn and grow. Just like Peter.
I know I will do nothing, not even the smallest, simplest step without God. “let nothing frighten or disconcert you. Remain deeply at peace. Everything is in My hands.” Divine Mercy in my soul # 219
My first step toward God was the simplest of tasks – get on my knees and ask for God’s help and Jesus’ presence in my life. The next not much more difficult, just get up from my seat and walk to the stage to introduce myself to the man who just spoke.
Each step has been bigger and some have been leaps but between each movement that God has asked of me one thing is consistent, His presence (not that I’ve always been focused enough to see Him). He has taught me and guided me and been with me in each task that He has called for me to take. Without the prior ‘step’ or His teaching and without His clear presence in the ‘leaps’, I would have not have had the courage to move nor the knowledge of His Will without the teaching.
In everything He has asked of me, one thing in my ‘homework’ has remained true, TRUST. Without trust, I’d be too afraid to do anything. But through trust, I know His Will and that I can’t fail nor mess it up, if I simply respond with four words, “here I am, Lord” or maybe “Jesus, I trust in You”. And so now my response is a much stronger “I will go, if you lead me” because I know He always leads me and He’s always there to keep me from falling like a dad running behind the son on his first bicycle with the training wheels removed.
The times I’ve fallen, like Peter, are when I lost sight of Jesus and saw the crashing waves in the world. But I’ve called out in the fall and Jesus has been there immediately, every time to rescue me and get me back on track.
Thank You Jesus, Thank You Jesus, here I am, lead me, Lord