Dare to Trust

 

What does it take to face the unknown? Have you ever been presented with such a chance? Have you ever been presented with a dare? My actual "Call" to ministry was more of a dare than a traditional call. 

It happened like this.  .  .  I could talk to anyone, but I was terribly anxious to speak before a group, actually, literally speak to a group on any topic. I could participate in a discussion, I could put my own two cents worth in, I could make a comment, but to put something together that was my own, and to get up and present it to a group was terrifying. So, when I began to feel something I would later identify as "a call" to ministry, it was naturally something with which I was already comfortable, and to a group with which I was comfortable. I was called to be a Youth Pastor. It felt like I would be having a conversation with my peers. I would get to keep going to the Youth Conferences and retreats. I would get paid to play volleyball on Sunday night with the youth, to go to 6 Flags, to cheer on the Atlanta Braves. What a sweet deal!

I was on my journey to this career. I had just graduated from Belhaven College with a major in Bible and Christian Education. I was home for the summer, and I was already working as the Summer Youth Director at my home church. My pastor asked me what my plans were, and my reply was that I wanted to work with youth. 

Without any hesitation, he asked why I was scared of adults, reminding me that any decent youth pastor had to be involved with the parents of the youth in the group. I replied with a defensive comment. Ultimately, this led to the "I DARE YOU TO TRUST GOD AND APPLY TO SEMINARY TO SEE WHERE GOD TAKES YOU!" It's 43 years later. I have preached more than 1500 sermons, taught seminars, led retreats, and addressed a group of more than 5,000 at one time. My mother is the only one who can still tell that I am scared to speak in public!

All of this brings us to Peter, Jesus, a boat, and a storm. Matthew 14 tells the story of the disciples on the lake and Jesus walking to them out on the water. The storm is growing, increasing in power, and

Jesus decides to go for a stroll out in the middle of the lake. If the storm itself did not scare the disciples, the sight of a man walking on a body of water that reaches 141 feet in depth. Peter, in a bold move, calls out "Lord, if it really is you, tell me to come to you on the water." I would be surprised if there were no comments in later years about Peter's failed attempt to walk on water that night. However, I have got to hand it to Peter. He is the only one swing a leg over the side to get out of the boat in the midst of that storm and take one step. 

Now, I do not intend to compare my faith to the Apostle Peter's, and I am sure my risk was less than his as well. The one thing we share is that we actually took the step to start. The act of faith was not in walking on the water. No, the act of faith was Peter's willingness to get out of the boat. Your faith is not measured by your success, but by your willingness to trust, even if it starts with a dare. 

Pastor Craig