Get Out of the Boat

I was tagged in a photo on my Facebook page from 20 years ago when I worked at Malibu, a Young Life Camp in Canada. I was nicknamed Fern that summer because I had really big hair, particularly my bangs! I often remark to my husband how much I miss the old Lisa- care free and with a faith that seemed so real, alive, and easy. It was easy to be a Christian back then. I was surrounded by Christians like myself. I was part of something special, reaching teens for Christ. It was exciting to watch lives being changed and to have my own life changed by these experiences.

I would do anything for God as long as I was comfortable and well-liked.

I remember telling a friend 8 years ago that I was a seed planter. People knew I was a Christian but I wasn't about to proclaim anything about my faith that might make me uncomfortable or not liked. I managed safety for many years in my walk with God. Sure I heard sermons and read passages in the Bible that spoke of the discomfort about being a Christian, but I did everything to protect myself from experiencing any of that. I was managing my faith and why rock the boat. As God was preparing my heart to begin Faith Journey Bible Studies almost 14 years ago, little did I know that my boat was about to get rocked in a big way! All of a sudden, I was forced to come out of MY closet as a Christian and let it be known what my faith was all about.

God has taught me many things through these experiences:

I am beyond my comfort zone, I understand what rejection feels like, I have been lonely, I have been persecuted for my faith, laughed at and ridiculed, rejected, and have felt people distancing themselves from me. As a recovering people pleaser, this has been very difficult.

I tell God often, He has me in the wrong place. But deep down I know He has me exactly where He wants me to be. Scripture over and over affirms our purpose as Christians in this world."You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14 (NIV).

Maybe you can relate to this? We are good at maintaining a safe distance from others and comfort level when it comes to our Christian faith. We do everything to blend in with the world and not stand out. The safer route is just to believe in God, the harder route is to begin walking with God. John Ortberg has a great book called, "If You Want to Walk on Water, You Have to Get Out of the Boat." I am grateful to be where I am at in my journey with God because where He has taken me from and where He is taking me to is developing me into a woman who is living more care free and full of adventurous life than she was 20 years ago but without the big bangs!