Just Step Off

When I was 13 years old, my family took a vacation to Hawaii with some family friends. We heard about a local waterfall with a smooth natural waterslide carved into the rocks. We were up for the adventure, so we went to check it out. The water slide looked spectacular. As we made our way to the top of the rocks that formed the slide, I noticed a handful of local kids jumping off of the adjacent towering cliffs into the water. Whew, that looked scary!

After about an hour of fun on that slide, we started eyeing the cliffs and the local kids who were jumping. We looked at each other to see who would conjure up the guts to be the first mainlander to climb the cliff and jump.

Seeing how I always wanted to beat the boys, I volunteered.

I made my way up a path cut into the rock wall to a ledge high above. As I stepped up to the edge of the cliff, where the overhang suspended me 30 feet above the water, I started to freak out. Tim, one of the younger boys in our group, joined me on the cliff. He said, “If you’re not going to jump, move over and I’ll jump. Are you chicken?”

Before I could answer his challenge, a local man, who must have been watching me for five minutes as I contemplated jumping, said, “Just step off.”

“What?” I yelled.

“Just step off,” he repeated.

“Yeah,” Tim echoed. “Just step off.”

Just taking a step seemed easy. I took steps all day long. What was the big deal? It’s just a step. With that, I moved to the edge, closed my eyes tight and simply took a small step forward. My body instantly plunged into space and I free fell with a scream of thrill all the way to the water. I came up out of the water feeling like a stunt girl.

1.Risk a jump from ministry status quo

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

“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. (Matthew 14:30–33)

Peter jumped. That is what I love about this passage, the fact that Peter actually jumped out of the boat. By jumping, he had the amazing opportunity to do something that no one in the history of the world had ever done; walk on water! Peter took that step right out of the comfort and safety of the boat to go be with his Lord. Are you missing out on ‘walk on water’ moments in your ministry because you are too afraid to break the status quo and jump? Perhaps it’s time to get uncomfortable and jump into an adventure God wants to take with you and those you are leading, your own ‘walk on water’ adventure.

2. If you can’t jump, just take a step.

Are you standing on a “cliff,” unable to jump? Are you feeling like God wants you to make a change, but you just can’t? Some people are born jumpers. Others are more like I was: frozen on the edge of the cliff, unwilling to jump but willing to take a small step.

Just because you may feel that God has called you to do something for Him does not necessarily mean you are ready to jump and do it. Most of us are reluctant to jump. So rather than a full jump, simply taking one step in the direction He has put on your heart can get your momentum moving, and God will then empower your next step. God often requires us to take the first step of obedience before His supernatural power kicks in to accomplish through us what He chooses. But taking that first step of faith demonstrates our willingness to trust God, and He in turn will crown our efforts with His favor.

Sometimes taking the smallest step in God’s direction ends up being the biggest step of your life.http://ctt.ec/mj121+" src="http://clicktotweet.com/img/bg-twitter.png" />  Tip toe if you must, but take that first step.

Lord, give me the motivation and courage to jump into the adventure you have for my life and my ministry. Empower my steps to break out of the status quo and guide my path exactly where you want me to go. Amen