We all want to be in God’s perfect will for our lives. We would love for our epitaph to read, “Was always in God’s Perfect Will.” That will not happen.
Sometimes our earnest pursuit to be in “God’s Perfect Will” leads us out of His will into to fear. That fear leads us into inactivity. Of course we all want to be lead by the Spirit and hear His voice. Yes! But I don’t believe God’s will is as restrictive and elusive as we make it out to be.
Often God gives us choices. As we mature in Him, the more choices He gives us. But even if God tells us to go left and we go right, He will not abandon us. He will not leave us. He will make an omelet out of our broken eggs.
Peter asked God if he could walk on water. Did Jesus intend for Peter to ask for such a bold thing? We don’t know. Peter walks on water but then begins to sink. Was this his “punishment” for asking for such a bold thing? Of course not. But Peter temporarily left God’s will. The moment he feared, he was no longer in God’s will. But the important part of the story is Jesus’ reaction to Peter at this moment.
Peter cries out for help. IMMEDIATELY Jesus took hold of him. Jesus TOOK hold of him! Jesus does the work. He didn’t allow Peter to flounder to learn a lesson. He did not expel him from discipleship school. He did not remove his calling. He didn’t give him a sickness. Jesus stretched out his hand, took Peter by the hand and together they walked on water back to the boat.
We must trust God’s love for us is bigger and greater than our mistakes. We must have more faith in God’s ability to catch us when we fall than our inclination to fall. We must get out of inactivity, begin walking toward our destiny and trust God will make corrections as necessary. Let’s get out of the boat!
But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:30-31 NASB)