Read Matthew 14:23-31
Jesus immediately said to [his disciples]: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
- Matthew 14:27 (NIV)
My two-year-old daughter stood hesitantly on the shore, the Gulf Coast waters inches away from her feet. “I’m scared,” she said adamantly. “It’s okay,” her aunt coaxed, “take just one step.” She took one baby step. “Okay,” said Aunt Nikki, “now just a little deeper.
She took another step and another while trustingly holding her aunt’s hand. “A little deeper, now a little deeper.” In a few moments my daughter was standing triumphantly waist deep in the shallow water. “I’m in! I’m in!” she shouted excitedly.
I envied her, thinking of all the times I’ve cheated myself of that same feeling of victory because I’m too scared to follow Jesus out a little deeper. How often have I chosen to stay up on the shore of insecurity? Our insecurities may make sense to us, but they keep us on the shore by constantly reminding us of the negative judgments of others.
But Christ passes no such judgments. He does not want us to stay on the shore but coaxes us out to where we can find true intimacy and victory. “Just a little deeper,” he says. I want to feel the same joy my two-year-old felt as she jubilantly played in the waves — the feeling of victory over my fears and doubts and insecurities. But the path to that kind of joy lies out a little deeper.
See an image of the author with her daughter, here.
Sarah Jane Reeves (Georgia, USA)
Thought for the Day:
With Christ’s help, we can overcome our fears and insecurity.
Prayer: Dear Lord, grant us the courage to follow you out into a deeper Christian experience today. Amen.
Prayer Focus: FOR COURAGE
The scripture quotation, unless otherwise indicated, is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Jesus immediately said to [his disciples]: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
My two-year-old daughter stood hesitantly on the shore, the Gulf Coast waters inches away from her feet. “I’m scared,” she said adamantly. “It’s okay,” her aunt coaxed, “take just one step.” She took one baby step. “Okay,” said Aunt Nikki, “now just a little deeper.
She took another step and another while trustingly holding her aunt’s hand. “A little deeper, now a little deeper.” In a few moments my daughter was standing triumphantly waist deep in the shallow water. “I’m in! I’m in!” she shouted excitedly.
I envied her, thinking of all the times I’ve cheated myself of that same feeling of victory because I’m too scared to follow Jesus out a little deeper. How often have I chosen to stay up on the shore of insecurity? Our insecurities may make sense to us, but they keep us on the shore by constantly reminding us of the negative judgments of others.
But Christ passes no such judgments. He does not want us to stay on the shore but coaxes us out to where we can find true intimacy and victory. “Just a little deeper,” he says. I want to feel the same joy my two-year-old felt as she jubilantly played in the waves — the feeling of victory over my fears and doubts and insecurities. But the path to that kind of joy lies out a little deeper.
See an image of the author with her daughter, here.
Sarah Jane Reeves (Georgia, USA)
Thought for the Day:
With Christ’s help, we can overcome our fears and insecurity.
Prayer: Dear Lord, grant us the courage to follow you out into a deeper Christian experience today. Amen.
Prayer Focus: FOR COURAGE
The scripture quotation, unless otherwise indicated, is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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