Comfort can be truly addictive. So much so that the Swiss theologian Karl Barth once said, “Comfort is one of the great siren calls of our present age.” I believe he was pointing to the fact that the ease and stability of comfort can be alluring; almost all-consuming. With an almost narcotic effect, comfortable settings often eradicates fear because our needs are being met and our routines feel secure. Yet there are times when we must be willing to leave behind the comfort and certainty of our current circumstances in order to grow into something new. Take the turtle, for instance. It can only make progress from point A to point B when it stretches out its neck and moves forward. In other words, it must accept a measure of risk to advance. Similarly, in following God’s truth, there are times when we must move forward even when we cannot clearly see where the road leads. We take the risk, trusting in God’s provision and His promises.
Just after Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the five thousand, He withdrew into solitude apart from His disciples in Matthew 14. After a period of prayer and reflection, He rejoined them by walking upon the Sea of Galilee. Immediately, the disciples were overcome with fear, believing Him to be a ghost. Peter, however, recognized Jesus and boldly asked to come to Him upon the water. Christ granted Peter’s request, and his faith initially enabled him to step out of the boat. However, the turbulence of the wind and waves quickly caused fear to overtake him, and his focus shifted away from Christ.
Fortunately, Jesus rescued Peter from the storm and asked, “Why did you doubt?”What gave Peter the courage to step out of the boat in the first place? And what caused him to waver? Likewise, why do we sometimes struggle in our faith when difficult seasons arise? Like many of us, Peter initially focused on trusting God’s command and promise. Yet when confronted by the realities of life—represented by the wind and waves—his faith faltered and he began to sink. The same thing can happen to us when our attention shifts from God’s faithfulness to the challenges surrounding us.
Many people focus on Peter’s moment of doubt and view him as an example of limited faith. However, it is important to remember that Peter was the only disciple who stepped out of the boat. While it may be easy to emphasize his struggle, we should never overlook the significance of taking that first step. A Chinese proverb states that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. In much the same way, stepping out of the boat—that initial act of faith—is often the most important step toward growth. Consider one area of your life where you have been contemplating change. It may be something as simple as an athlete trusting a teammate to make the big play, committing to launch a new YouTube channel, or making a more significant decision such as pursuing a new career opportunity or finding a new place of worship.
Whatever it is, commit to stepping out of your boat of comfort.
- Identify the issue – What area of comfort are you having difficulty leaving?
- Seek wise counsel if needed – Ask for guidance from a trusted friend, mentor, or advisor.
- Act – Take action. Even if you make progress and experience setbacks along the way, continue moving forward.
- Stay committed – Don’t give up. See the process through. Get out of that boat of comfort and commit to the growth that awaits you.
I recognize this will not be the easiest exercise to accomplish. However, we often cannot open a new chapter in life until a previous chapter has come to a close. Therefore, as you pursue meaningful change, faithfully place one foot in front of the other each day. Growth rarely happens all at once. It begins when we choose to step forward and successfully “Get Out of the Boat.”
R. Brockman Pierce Author, The Joy of Significance Encouraging lives rooted in faith, family, fellowship, and lasting significance