Stepping out

Almost like a kid who had just gotten his swimming certificate, he hesitantly dipped one toe into the icy water. With one foot over the edge, heart racing, wind lashing the sea, and the boat dangerously creaking behind him. But Jesus was out there, on the water. Walking. So Simon Peter did something wild—he stepped out. It was bold. But it was also trust. Or at least a brazen attempt to regain confidence in the one he followed. It’s beautifully portrayed in The Chosen. But… also in the Bible. Simon Peter asked, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come,” and Jesus simply said, “Come.” And: so he did.

The first few steps went nicely. But then the storm crept into Simon Peter’s mind–and heart. His focus wavered. His confidence faltered. Terror struck. Took over. And finally… trust gave way to fear. And fear, as it often does, made him sink. “Lord, save me!” he cried.

—And Jesus did.

Courage isn’t the absence of fear. It’s the presence of trust. It worked for Simon Peter only for a moment. His trust faltered, but Jesus didn’t. He reached out, lifted him up, gently naming the doubt but never letting him drown.

In the Bible there are many stories of trust, in the face of danger or harm. Centuries earlier, Queen Esther faced her own storm. To approach the king uninvited could cost her life—but to remain silent would cost her people theirs. “If I perish, I perish,” she said, stepping forward in trembling courage. Like Simon Peter, she trusted. Not because it was safe, but because she sensed God’s call. And, unlike Simon Peter, Esther’s courage did not sink into her.

Maybe you’ve stepped out in faith too, only to panic halfway. Or maybe you’re still clinging to the proverbial boat in your life, afraid to try. Jesus doesn’t shame your hesitation. He just keeps saying, “Come.”

What if trust isn’t measured by how long you walk on water, but by whether you’re willing to step out when He calls?

P.S. Are you enjoying this journey with Simon Peter? Your own character might even resemble his. Care to find out? Take our The Chosen 'Test of Character' and journey for a while with the character you have the most in common with.