When is the last time your heart just beat out of your chest with the possibility of wild success or epic failure?
You see, those two things come hand in hand.
If there’s a possibility of wild success, then there’s also a possibility of epic failure. And if there’s a possibility of epic failure, then there’s a slight chance of wild success.
And I want to know, when was the last time your heart was just racing? Maybe it’s been a long time, or maybe it’s been never.
Have you forgotten what your racing, thumping, beating heart really is? It’s the beating of your own drum. Have you forgotten to follow it? God places desires within our heart and those desires are to be pursued.
There’s a great story in the Bible that I would imagine included a heart that was racing. You’ve heard this story before. The disciples were out in a boat, on the water, and there’s a storm. They look out across the waves and there’s Jesus walking on the water. And you see, I think Peter saw Jesus and his heart was just racing. Because in front of him was a possibility of wild success or epic failure.
Peter was bold. They say fortune favors the bold. He was the only one bold enough to take action. The only one bold enough to respond to the beat of his own heart.
Peter said, “Hey Jesus, call me out to you on the water.” And Peter takes a step out of the boat, and he starts walking on the water. Was that at all safe? Oh no it wasn’t! Was that a chance for epic failure? You bet it was! In fact, Peter got scared and started sinking. But Jesus was right there.
I wonder what Jesus could do in your life if you were bold? I wonder where he would take you and what he would empower you to do if you really trusted him like Peter did? I wonder what waters he has for you to walk on?
Like the words of the song “Oceans” by Hillsong:
You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find you in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
I wonder what would happen in your life if you honestly told Jesus you are willing to step out on the waters with him. What would you discover in the great unknown? This is where you faith meets the mystery.
But here’s the problem, you and I like safe today don’t we? We build our lives within this sweet little comfort zone that insulates from disappointment and failure. We may not be real happy in here, but at least we’re comfortable and safe.
Our soul is dying where it’s comfortable and safe.
Our relationships are dying, our hopes and our dreams are dying, and our potential is dying.
Why do we do what we do? Because it’s the way we’ve always done it. Well if you don’t like the results, maybe you should try something different.
2 Corinthians 6:11-13 (MSG) says, “I long for you to enter this wide open spacious life. We didn’t fence you in, the smallness you feel comes from within you. Your lives aren’t small, but you’re living them in a small way. Open up your lives. Live openly and expansively.”
Hey, the good stuff happens out here! Outside the walls of your comfort zone, out here where life is risky and failure and disappointment are a big possibility. But it’s also the land of fulfillment and happiness like you’ve never known.
So what I’m asking you to do is take a risk. I’m telling you, anything is possible in your life if you’re willing to take some risks. Be willing to fail. Be willing to be bad at something long enough to get good at it. Be willing to totally suck! Be willing to step out of the boat and begin sink. Get out there in the mystery and meet your savior in ways you’ve never known before.
That’s the only way you’re going to get an opportunity to even take one step on the water. A wise man once said “a ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships were built for.” You weren’t created for a safe life.
If your life has become stale and stagnant, that’s because you’re sitting still. You weren’t created for a boring life sister. The truth is a boring life is the result of a little life lived within the confines of our comfort zone.
Will you take some risks for the life that you want? Will you get out of the boat? Will you define the boring areas of your life and dare to shake them up?
Boring is the beginning of the death of a relationship, the death of a dream, the death of so much more that’s within you, and today I want you to fight it. Every time you keep on doing the same stuff over and over again a little piece of you is dying and that piece is being added to the walls of your comfort zone.
Would you be so bold to tell Jesus you’re willing to step out onto the waters where he is calling you? Are you ready to face the possibility of failure and stop running from it? Here we are Jesus, facing the unknown, following you.
You can’t afford to live little … not when you were created for a BIG Life!