Life to the Full

Do you remember the story about Peter and Jesus in the boat?  Jesus had been speaking to people along the shoreline. After he was done, he sent the disciples on ahead out in the boat while he dismissed the people who had gathered. Later that night, Jesus walks out to the boat, but he didn’t simply WALK to the boat, He walked ON WATER to the boat. The disciples were terrified, but Jesus immediately comforted them and told them, “Take courage. It is I.” (Mark 12:27) Peter, with all his man courage, asked Jesus, “Lord if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Of course, Jesus did exactly that.  Peter was scared and afraid; his man courage had left him.

It is at this point that Peter is being stretched. He is being stretched in his faith in Jesus. He is being stretched in his willingness to follow Jesus. Can you imagine what Peter would have thought if instead of Jesus replying with “Come”, he had simply said, “Oh never mind Peter, you cannot do it? Just stay there in your comfort Peter.”

I’m so glad that Jesus didn’t say “oh never mind” to me either! I’m so glad that God has led me to go on this upcoming trip to Cambodia.  I feel, for me personally, that this trip has stretched me from the start. From the beginning, I made plans for a mission trip, my plans. I planned to go here, God wanted me to go there. I wanted it to look like this; God wanted it to look like that. I wanted comfort; God wanted me to follow. I have leaned out, and He has leaned in.

I am so thankful for this season of stretching. Through this stretching, I have been taught to lay me down, and follow Jesus, even if that means to the other side of the world. I have been shown that this trip is NOTHING about me, and EVERYTHING about Him. He had been able to stretch my heart to hold more, and more is exactly what I need. More of Him, less of me. I need all this room in my heart for 33+ precious little jewels in Cambodia, and I just can’t wait to get my arms around them!!