#FEARLESS365 is a yearlong study of God’s commandment to us to live without fear. For 365 days, we will focus on one scripture and volunteers from all over the world will share their personal thoughts and what God has shared with them on the specific verse. For more info… go here.

30But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31Immediately 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

We expect things to be “smooth sailing” when we are on the path God has laid out for us.  I thought that if it was God’s will it would be easy and I would not meet any resistance in my obedience. I mistakenly thought that blessings would come immediately following my obedience.

In the verses before this Peter asks Jesus to tell him to come to him if he is indeed Jesus.

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

I relate to this verse because earlier this Fall, something started stirring up inside of me. I actually wrote a post on this exact verse in September, so I would say it’s crazy that that is the verse you assigned me, but it’s not crazy, it’s God.  After writing my original post about this verse, I decided to take a huge leap of faith and step away from teaching for a season. I sensed God calling me to take a break from teaching psychology classes online and at a local college and instead focus my time and attention on my spiritual coaching ministry. I was petrified about doing this, What if I have nothing to fill my time up? Why am I stepping away from something that can earn money, and my coaching ministry cannot sustain that income?  I asked questions just like Peter did of Jesus. I’ve decided it would be much easier to obey if we already know the outcome. ‘Yes you give up teaching and I will bless your coaching ministry by providing clients”.  Of course, God doesn’t work like this, but He did give me peace and I made arrangements to have this past semester be my last semester teaching. I decided this not knowing what was to come, but having faith in my decision.

Peter felt resistance as he started walking towards Jesus and instead of keeping his eyes of Him, he let himself become shaky and afraid. The second we take our eyes off of Jesus is the second fear sets in. That is when we start to sink. When our worry and doubt seem to surround us and it is all we see and all we feel, we become paralyzed by fear.

Actually he didn’t feel the wind, scripture says “he SAW the wind and became afraid.”  This is a subtle but important fact that I failed to notice when reading this verse before. It  wasn’t merely the wind blowing that made him fearful, it was his thoughts of what could happen as a result of the wind blowing that made him afraid.

Fear isn’t inherent in our circumstances; it appears after we start entertaining each possible outcome.

I wasn’t afraid to leave teaching, I was afraid to leave teaching and not know what is next for me. I was afraid of not having a back up plan and running through all of the scenarios of what could happen. The decision itself didn’t make me afraid, it was the thoughts of “what if” and “now what” that caused me to be afraid. I recall reading “Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick, where he talks about how even a worst case scenario ends in “No matter what happens God will……..”

Romans 8:28 (NIV)  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

No matter what happens, God will protect me and make a way for me to use the gift he has given me in the capacity in which he chooses.

And that is exactly what He did.

Shortly after I made the decision to leave my teaching position, I received an invitation to lead a bible study group for military wives. This is an opportunity that requires commitment and preparation. It is something that I would not have been able to accept had I still been teaching.

When we let worry consume our mind, we lose sight of who we are and what our purpose is. I am so thankful that just like Jesus was there to take Peter’s hand, He is there to take my hand when my thoughts of uncertainty start to take control. Just as Jesus suggests, Faith is the glue that hold us together, that keeps us trusting Him and moving forward even when the outcome is unclear. It allows us to see the wind and not be afraid because No matter what happens God will…..

I’m still uncertain about what the future of my coaching ministry is, but I know that no matter what happens God will protect me and lead me in the way everlasting. I know his plan is to prosper me and give me hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

I challenge you sweet friends, when circumstances in your life start to cause you to worry and to be afraid, run it through the lens of truth of, “No matter what happens God will…” I think you will start to see Romans 8:28 and God’s faithfulness in a whole new way.

Many Blessings,

Stephanie

Stephanie Miller is a Personal and Spiritual Growth Coach who lives in Georgia. One interesting fact about you: She has all of the state capitals memorized (she was the around-the world champion for state capitals in the fourth grade!)