New Year’s Resolutions: Will I Walk on Water or Stay in the Boat?
I decided that I was not going to allow the fear of man to influence me in any way. I would follow God wherever He led me, and I would do whatever He told me. I would not be intimidated into silence or complacency. I would be His to use however He saw fit regardless of the consequences.
Wish I could say that I have had a successful year ... that I have been God’s faithful servant, and that my resolution has become my reality. But, alas, I have not conquered my fear of man. That desire to please people is hard to shake. And it comes dressed up in so many disguises. But it has been an interesting year, and I've learned some important things:
God honors my desire to please Him. Even when I fail and allow my fear to keep me from doing what I know I should, He is right there with me, cheering me on. He does not condemn my weakness or shame my pitiful efforts. He reminds me that His power is made perfect in my weakness, that He loves me still and that He is with me and for me.
- Sometimes God takes me to lonely places to teach me to be strong for Him. I don’t always like this. I like a good party with good girlfriends and lots of laughter. But, giving up my people-pleasing ways sometimes means I walk alone with Him.
- There is always more at stake than I can see. Choosing God over man (or myself) always involves something bigger. It's never just about the thing before me. It's usually about something more significant and someone else.
- Sometimes God lets me participate with Him in something really big and cool! I often remind myself that I have to get out of the boat to walk on water, which can be scary and seemingly crazy. But, I can trust God and walk on water or follow man and stay safely in the boat. I’d rather walk on water.

What then keeps us from beginning a neighborhood Bible study? Is it the fear of man? The fear of rejection? The desire to be seen in a certain way? The desire to be accepted? The fear of not measuring up or of not being qualified? What keeps us from taking the next step? Perhaps it’s time to trust God and step out of the boat. Perhaps it’s time to make your own resolution. Perhaps it’s time to give up fear and follow God! And if you get to walk on water, you’ll never want to ride safely in the boat again ... I promise.

Comments 2
Thanks for writing about this, Lisa. I, too, have struggled, really all my life, with fear. Fear especially of men, as my father was a fear producing man. So, this has been a struggle for me this year. I long to be able to trust confidently in God alone. So what has he done in response to my cry for help? He has placed me in a very lonely position, miles from what I would consider "home." I intended to be in a small space on the Oregon Coast for one year. But, when that year was coming to a close, I needed a hip replacement. No way could I be moving. Obviously a "God move"! But am I really learning to let go of my fears, to truly trust him? He has brought me to be studying the story of Elijah, who had to be placed in very lonely circumstances - he really needed to trust God in order to do what he had to do with Ahab. You're on the right track, Lisa! Thanks!
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