Jumping Scared!

Have you ever been given a task bigger than you?  I mean something that you don't feel qualified to do... okay... you KNOW you are not qualified to do?  There is a difference between doubting yourself and knowing yourself.  Many of us experience those types of circumstances every day. Whether at work where you are putting together presentations that you are scared to do, or you may be sitting in meetings where everyone in the room seems more educated or more 'in the know' than you are.  You might even be working on a church committee and this is new to you.  But there you are, in the room, on the committee and in the mix.  It can be both intimidating and overwhelming at the same time.  Today I want to encourage those of you who are facing things that look bigger than you.

UNEASY ON PURPOSE

I often find myself recognizing how insufficient I am in most of my life.  You would think by now, at this age I would be completely comfortable in my skin and feel that I know what I am doing, but that is not my testimony!  Don't get me wrong, there are certain gifts I have that I realize God has graced me to do, like teaching, encouraging and helping folks find wisdom, but in the midst of what I know He is helping me with, are the NEW THINGS that keep showing up!  The purposeful things that make me not just think outside the box, but they make me jump outside of it.  The funny thing is that I welcome these ideas when God places them on my heart, it is exciting and I can see the benefit for others as well as myself.  I  see a divine connection with what I am challenged to do and opportunities to walk further in my purpose.... then it happens.   My stomach gets tight, my heart starts beating kind of weird and my knees get kind of weak.  What happened to the excitement? 

 

Oh yeah!  I am the one doing this thing!  Thoughts of my shortcomings, weaknesses or simply my lack of specific qualifications comes to mind. When this happens, we can beat ourselves up and even talk ourselves out of what God is orchestrating.  That is  when we have to convince ourselves to 'Jump Scared'.

GET OUT OF THE BOAT!



 

 

Over the years I have heard the story of Peter walking on water.  People praised him for the boldness to do it, and others ridiculed him for sinking.  The way I see it, how many of us have had any part of that experience?  Have we been bold enough to hear God say "Come" and we go?  We think we do.  Every day we are trying to follow Jesus and hear His commands.  Our hearts are in the right place, but in any given week, when we see what is facing us, who is against us or the possibilities of real danger or loss, we can sink.  

 

A few things I like about Peter is that fact that He made sure it was Jesus first!  Be certain when you jump out there, you are not doing things for selfish gain, or personal glory.  Making sure Jesus is in the midst of whatever your jump project is, is vital to success and assurance of victory.

 

Second thing is to know is that although the wind and waves are there. ... you are on water!  WOW!  You are actually outside of your box/boat.  You are in an area that is less comfortable than where you were so expect to feel anxiety, just plan for it and know that if at any time you get that 'sinking feeling', call on Him and He will bring you through.  Remember to take time to relish in the feelings of accomplishment when you realize... "I am walking ON WATER!"

 

DON'T BE MOVED BY RESULTS

"Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”"

 

Recently I took a jump, and it brought to mind the story of Peter.  I used his story to encourage myself by knowing God would bring me out, Just like He did Peter.... but then I got to thinking.... 

 

"If I jump, then call on Jesus, He will automatically help me and everything will be great!...  But what if it does not happen that way?  What if God allows me to sink further than I thought?  What if He tries to teach me a lesson on faith and lets me fail?  What if? What if?" 

 

Well, after that moment of anxiety, (where I said I would do this project then never attempt anything like that again); I realized I had just moved into looking at waves and wind! I have agreed to the jump only because I knew it was Jesus, then when I was actually WALKING ON WATER, the sinking feelings came.   It is easier to see the winds and waves when you respond to God by faith.  We can't see faith, but those waves.. we can see them.   So now,  I have simply said to myself... "So be it, if God allows me to sink, So be it."   My plan is to follow God, His plan is to prosper me and bring me to an expected end.  I love Him enough to follow Him.  I trust Him enough to follow Him.

 

 

TIME TO JUMP!

What is in front of you today that God has placed on your heart?  What project or opportunity is waiting for you to say "Lord, if this is You, tell me to JUMP"?   God has big plans for you.  You may not understand or see how all of this works out, because it is scary, it is different; but Gods got you.  We doubt because we know ourselves, we know we may not be qualified to do the task in front of us, but if  God has 'bid you to come', go!   If you don't have faith in yourself or in your abilities, that is okay, the task He often gives us is not based on us, but Him.  He has given us sufficient grace for every task, though it may not look like what people require.  Have faith because you know your God, you got this, because He's got you!  So, look at the waters, focus on Jesus and go ahead.... Jump Scared!

 

 

 

SIDEBAR.....

Don't be moved or discouraged by those who ridicule you for your sinking moments.  Remember they ridicule from inside the boat, at least you got out.