“‘Come,’ He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.” — Matthew 14:29
Spectator or Player?
As a child, I rode horses and played tennis. As a young adult, I bowled in a bowling league. Once I became a full-time working mom of twins, juggling the plates of life became my sport. Starting from a young age, my kids have always played soccer. I love being a soccer mom. I love being a spectator and their biggest fan. And I recently grew to love the sport of running during the hardest seasons of my life.
While my dad fought and lost his battle to pancreatic cancer, I learned how to parallel running and faith through the Run for God 5K challenge. It was not only exercise but a time of prayer and worship. Just like Peter walking on water, I too strive to be a player and a water walker, as opposed to a spectator in a boat. I went on to coach my own Run for God class, through which I gained a tribe and learned the importance of fellowship.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” It would be easy to live life in fear like the other disciples when the storms of life arise. Jesus instructs us to do the exact opposite by telling us to “take courage” in Matthew 14:27.
Is God calling you to step out of your boat? We all have an assignment. What we do with that assignment is our decision. Will you be a player like Peter? Or will you be a spectator like the other disciples?
— Julie Wicker
For information on Run for God, visit runforgod.com. If you’re interested in becoming a Water Walker, visit waterwalkers29.wordpress.com.
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