The Courage to Leave

Key Truth: Pursuing God’s plan often requires the courage to leave the crowd and your comfort zone. You cannot walk on the waves if you are unwilling to leave the safety net.

Scripture Anchors:

Matthew 14:28-29

Isaiah 43:18-19

Consider This: We often focus on the miracle of the walking, but we forget the weight of the leaving. There were twelve disciples in that boat, but only one had the audacity to make the request. To pursue God’s plan, Peter had to be okay with being the only one with wet feet. He had to leave the collective safety of the group to experience the individual sovereignty of God.

The boat represents the familiar. It represents the people, habits and mindsets that make us feel secure but keep us stationary. Moving toward Jesus requires a holy separation. It means standing up while others are sitting down. It means moving forward while others are waiting for the storm to pass. Courage is not the absence of fear; it is the decision that what Jesus is calling you toward is more important than what you are leaving behind.

Reflection Questions:

1. Who or what is the "eleven in the boat" for you right now? Are you staying in your comfort zone just because everyone around you is staying in theirs?

2. Is your need for safety and familiarity louder than your desire to see Jesus in the deep?

3. Once you make the request, "Lord, tell me to come," are you prepared to move the moment He answers, even if no one follows you?

   
   

Application:

Identify one area where you have been waiting for group approval before moving on God’s instructions. This week, take a deliberate step in that direction without asking for permission or seeking consensus from the boat. Trust that if He gave you the word, He will give you the way.

Prayer:

Lord, give me the courage to be the only one to stand. I thank You for the people in my boat, but I realize my calling is found where You are, out on the waves. Strengthen my resolve to leave the familiar behind. When I step over the edge, let my heart be so consumed by Your "Come" that I do not look back at the shore. I choose the journey of Your plan over the safety of my routine. In Jesus’ name - Amen.

Closing Declaration: I am leaving the boat. I refuse to be held back by the comfort of the crowd or the safety of the familiar. I have made my request, I have heard His voice and now I move, when He moves...just like that! My faith is bigger than my fear and my future is found in the deep!