Evolve or Repeat?

Matthew 14:27-29 AMP

“But immediately He spoke to them, saying, ‘Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!’ Peter replied to Him, ‘Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.’ He said, ‘Come!’ So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”

Today is the first day in a new school for me teaching subjects I’ve never taught using methods I’ve never used with a grade level I’ve never considered teaching. Yes, that’s a lot of “never’s” and after 20 years of teaching the same grade where the last 5 were in the same school teaching the same subject, one would think this current move to be a bit foolish. If I let myself think about this choice too long, I too will wonder why I would pull away from what’s familiar to pursue what’s unfamiliar. Then I am reminded of the day God began to impress upon my heart that He was doing a new thing. This happened days after the conclusion of a 21- day Daniel Fast I was on during the early weeks of 2020. One of my main outcries to God during that fast was that my spiritual senses become sharpened, that I be able to discern what He desired of me in this season and keep me from becoming distracted or engaged in what is not. So not even a week after the fast was over, I felt God’s sovereign nudge to apply for a position I had never considered before. Being one of many to be interviewed, I was hired and here I am embarking upon this new teaching journey that I know God has called me to.

One of the beautiful benefits of fasting that I have found is the strengthening of your relationship with Christ. This relationship with Him reveals so many of His intentions for us and the closer we get to Him, the more He shows us who we really are. As He reveals glimpses of who He fashioned us to be, the intrigue that is ignited leaves us, like Peter, calling for Jesus to bid us to come. There is a longing to evolve into more than we know ourselves to be. Today’s focus verses show how we get to this place of wanting to evolve rather than repeat our same old ways of thinking and being: we mustn’t be afraid, we must recognize God when He beckons us to come, and we must step out from where we place our security. Peter’s relationship with Jesus allowed the inner working to take place that helped him to desire what God desired for him and therefore was able to trust Him enough to step out of the boat and walk on water. So I ask you today, have you been feeling God’s Holy tug towards more? Is there a desire for God to take you deeper: show you what you can’t see on your own, set your hands to accomplish what you wouldn’t try on your own, take you places you would never dare to go? Brothers and sisters, I believe it to be Jesus bidding you to come out to deeper ends of your existence. I encourage you, like our focus text, to not be afraid. To trust that it is Him calling you to evolve, and to go ahead and step out and away from your comfort zone because repeating the cycle that is you, won’t reveal the greatness of our God the way evolving will reveal.

Let’s Pray

Most Holy Lord, we thank you for showing us how the intricacies of our existence yields evidence of the great work you are calling us to do. You said you would take us from faith to faith, and so today we yield to your desire to take us deeper. Give us Father more clues, more instructions for life, that we may evolve into who you created us to be rather than repeating who we’ve always been. Amen