A Lesson in Faith: Reflections from the Dock

Learning to Trust God Beyond My Comfort Zone

In the early 2000s, when I was in my early twenties, I worked for a landscaping company. Looking back now, I can’t help but think, “Oh Lord, I’m getting so old.” Our company was contracted to install a brick patio and a shrub bed for a family who lived by a lake. The project was going to take a week or two to finish.

During my lunch breaks, I would sit alone on the dock by the lake, enjoying the peace and quiet—no roaring tractors, no coworkers cussing, and no homeowners yelling at us to get off the freshly laid lawn. It was just me, the stillness, and God, sharing a bologna and cheese sandwich.

About a week into the project, I found myself once again sitting on the dock, legs dangling over the edge, daydreaming about a beach vacation. Suddenly, I heard an audible voice. Now, before you jump to any conclusions: my thermos wasn’t spiked, I don’t do drugs, and all the guys were up at the trucks eating their lunch—I checked. I shrugged it off, opened my sandwich, and wondered if maybe the bologna had gone bad (I’d heard spoiled meat could cause hallucinations), but it tasted as good as bologna ever could. So, I carried on.

Then, I heard the voice again: “STAND UP!” Oh boy, now things were getting weird. In that instant, I felt deep within my spirit that the Lord was telling me if I stood up, I would be able to stand on the water. I know what you’re probably thinking: “This guy’s lost his mind.” Maybe so, but I’m telling you, it felt as real as any conversation I’ve ever had face to face.

A few months before this moment, I had preached to my church family about one of my favorite Bible stories. In Matthew 14, Jesus meets His disciples in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. He walks toward them—no boat, no life jacket—just strolling up like the Son of God He is. At first, the disciples think He’s a ghost. But as they clear their heads, they realize it’s Jesus. Since He didn’t have a boat, walking was the only option.

Peter, never one to shy away, says, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” Jesus invites him, and Peter steps out of the boat and actually walks on water! But, as most of us know, when Peter loses focus on Jesus and gets distracted by the storm, he begins to sink. Jesus immediately reaches out and saves him. What an amazing story! I’m not sure I would’ve had the courage to get out of the boat—I’m a big chicken—but God is always there when we slip and fall.

The experiences the disciples had walking with Jesus must have been absolutely mind-blowing. I’ll admit, I’m a little jealous of those who got to walk side by side with Him. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I want some of those incredible experiences, too. (Picture me crossing my arms and pouting.)

I longed to experience the power and greatness of my Lord. I wanted to see Him move in my life like never before. Praying, fasting, and seeking Him became my only focus.

So, back to my story. I believe that moment was God’s way of inviting me to experience more. He wanted to take me deeper, to plunge me into a Holy Spirit–filled revival—just as I had been praying for. But when God called me to step out, I hesitated. I had every excuse in the book: “What if this isn’t God speaking? What if I fall in and don’t have extra clothes? What if my coworkers make fun of me? I can’t swim. I don’t have my arm floaties.” All those excuses drowned out God’s call, and before I knew it, it was time to get back to work.

Now, more than twenty years later, the question still haunts me: “What if I had stood up? Would I have stood on the water? What was God preparing to do in my life if I had listened?” The opportunity never came again, and I’ve kicked myself ever since. When it comes to God and going deeper with Him, we always have backup plans from B to Z—just in case. “God is calling me to do this, but if it doesn’t work out, I have a life jacket to save me.”

The greatest miracle is simply stepping out in faith—leaping out of the boat and running toward Him with no life jacket, no floaties, and no spare clothes. God will always take care of us. Too often, regrets fill our minds with “What if?” What if I had obeyed? What if I had stepped out? What if I had moved when God said to move? We can’t live in regret, but those questions still linger from time to time.

So, if God calls you to step out, don’t let fear or excuses hold you back. Trust Him—He will meet you on the water.