Written by Sasha LeBlanc
I was having coffee with a friend a while back and she was sharing with me the things she had seen God do in her lifetime and in her ministry. Pretty miraculous things! To be completely honest, as I heard some of it, I had to work hard to keep my left eyebrow from rising in disbelief.
I immediately remember stopping myself.
I’ve heard this statement a million times and as I sat listening to her, it was recalled to my memory: “If the God you serve IS who you say He is, then why do you respond as if He’s not?”
As she continued with her stories and I watched her face light up as she talked about His goodness, I was convicted. How dare I feel that I have the right to reject or discredit a move of God simply because I don’t understand it or can’t justify the reality of it in my own mind?
HE IS GOD. With my own mouth I’ve declared that He is faithful, He is sovereign, He is in control, He brings healing, He gives hope, He sets free, He restores, and He delivers. Yet, I struggled to believe it as I sat listening to her provide testimonies of those exact things.
When I left from the table with her, I began to examine my life. I started to see the areas where I have placed God in boxes, because I couldn’t make sense of something. I realized that I would legitimately discredit any possible move of God simply by presenting what seemed like “reality”. But you know what that is? It’s carnality and an extreme lack of faith.
God reminded me of the scripture, “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and do not lean on your own ability to understand.” (Proverbs 3:5 NIV) I had to repent! I’ve come to places in my life where I’ve been so frustrated at God because I couldn’t see Him moving, completely forgetting that He was exactly where I left Him: in a box sealed by my own disbelief.
In a lot of ways, as Christians — even in ministry — we so perfectly have the hang of serving God and we do it like rock-stars. Because we feel in control. We monotonously manage. But when life throws a curve ball and we’re actually asked to trust and apply the things we believe about God, we struggle because “stepping out of the boat” is FAR too ludicrous, and “what’s the ‘reality’ that I will actually stay above water?”
So, I want to challenge you to take what you SAY that you believe about God, intentionally implement it, and declare it in your life and in your circumstances. When doubt interferes or the voice of “reality” tries to shout over the TRUTH of who He is and what He is capable of, take those thoughts captive and replace them with the Word.
In a very short amount of time, God has revealed Himself to me in ways that have rocked my world, and it started with choosing to take steps towards Him in faith, even when I didn’t understand. It is in those moments He was able to SHOW me that He really is capable and worthy of trust.
So… step out of the boat.
