Faith that Feels Crazy: Finding Peace When Obedience Doesn’t Make Sense.

Jesus said, “Come.” And Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus.

Matthew 14:29, NCV

“Quit your job.” Three words that made my stomach lurch.
That’s not exactly how God phrased it. What He actually whispered was, “Don’t take your Keurig back to work,” and “I won’t move until you do.” Subtle words, yet they landed like dynamite in my soul.

The same weekend, a writing coach reminded me I couldn’t possibly do it all—finish my new book, keep up with my blog, create daily content, publish two clients’ books, take on new ones, and still work part-time at my church. I was burning the candle at both ends and convincing myself I could keep the flames alive forever.

But God was asking me to drop the match.

I argued. Ministry work was holy, wasn’t it? Noble? My job at the church wasn’t just a paycheck—it was serving Him, serving my pastors, and serving people I love. How could I walk away from something that felt like God’s work to step into something that felt uncertain, risky, and frankly…crazy?

I’m not a fan of uncomfortable leaps of faith. I prefer small, measured steps. In the daytime. When the grass is short and dry and I can see exactly where my foot is going to land before I shift any weight to it. That’s my level of “adventure.”

The Truth About Faith (It Always Feels Risky)

Here’s the truth I wrestled with:
Faith always sounds crazy to a cautious heart.
Faith never asks, “Is this safe?” Faith always asks, “Is this Jesus?”

When God calls us into deep places of faith, we usually find ourselves in over our heads. Sometimes in murky, moving water where our reliance is on Him alone and not on ourselves. I wish I could tell you it’s as simple as ordering office supplies online and hitting that red button when you’re done—but stepping out in faith sometimes feels uncertain, frightening, brazen.

Peter’s Story: Trusting the Voice Above the Waves

It reminds me of Peter on the Sea of Galilee. He and the other disciples were in a boat in the middle of the night. It was dark. They were exactly where Jesus told them to be. Obedient. Should have been an easy row, right?

But obeying Him wasn’t smooth sailing. They were going against the wind. It wasn’t a peaceful drift across calm waters while sipping sweet tea in one hand and holding a PB&J in the other. They were straining, rowing hard, waves crashing against the boat.

Enter Jesus, stage left, and the disciples were freaking out. I don’t blame them! Have you ever seen someone walking on the water 3-4 miles from shore? I’d have been screaming right along with them – likely before I saw Jesus. (Remember, I’m not much of an adventure-girl.)

But Jesus’ instant response to their display of fear: “Take courage! I Am! Stop being afraid!” (Matthew 14:27, AMPC).

Then the spotlight falls on Peter. He’s the brave, faith-filled one. While the rest of the disciples were likely still trembling and cowering together with their hands on the oars, Peter called out to the figure who sounded like Jesus. I mean, they’d left Jesus several miles away—He wasn’t supposed to be strolling across the lake without a boat.

When Jesus called, “Come,” Peter didn’t ask for a second opinion. He didn’t wait for the storm to stop or the water to settle. Peter didn’t throw out a bunch of fleeces. Peter stepped out on Jesus’ command.

Faith is not waiting for calm waters.

Faith is trusting His voice is enough to hold you,

even when the storm is raging.

The Risk of Faith: It’s Not Always Easy

How many times have I said, “God, if this is really Your will, have three people come to me and tell me it’s a good idea.” Who doesn’t like confirmation?

I was not as brave as Peter. I heard God tell me to step into a new season, but I was nervous. So I called my husband and told him what I felt God was directing me to do, and followed that quickly with, “But you pray about it and see what He tells you!”

That was hardly faith—it was more like tossing the hot potato of responsibility into his lap and saying, “Here, you hold it.” While having a spouse hear from God is not a poor decision (and husbands and wives need to walk in unity, agreeing on important decisions), for me it was a doubt-filled excuse to spread the risk. And how can I expect to grow in faith when I diffuse the responsibility of hearing God for myself?

Faith isn’t safe—it’s surrender

I want faith to feel easy. But faith isn’t always easy, nor is it a feeling. Faith is a choice! It wouldn’t be faith or require faith if we knew the outcome of the decision before we made it. Faith is believing something exists before we know it with our senses. Peter stepped out of the boat. The trouble came when he allowed the natural realities of his circumstances to take his focus off Jesus. And he sank. Yet even then, Jesus’ hand was right there, holding him, steadying him.

It makes me wonder—
How far could Peter have gone if he had kept his eyes on Jesus?
How many others might have stepped out too if his faith had carried him farther?

That’s the question that now burns in me. How far might I go if I don’t stop looking at Him?

I’ve often heard my pastors say, “Start in faith, stay in faith, and finish in faith.” That is my desire. I want to step out in faith and never let my faith in Jesus’ commands waver as I keep my eyes on Him and finish the calling He placed in me.

So I quit my job. Not because I stopped loving the church, but because Jesus whispered, “Step out of the boat. Trust Me.”

Finding Peace in the Unknown

It hasn’t been easy. The enemy loves to whisper “what ifs” and tempt me with backup plans. But when I turn my eyes to Jesus, His words anchor me:
“Keep your eyes on Me. Trust Me. Do not doubt. I will be faithful. I Am completely trustworthy.”

And when my heart wants to panic, His peace rushes in.

Scripture promises:
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock” (Isaiah 26:3-4, NLT).

Peace isn’t found in certainty; peace is found in surrender.

What is Jesus Calling You to Do?

I don’t know what Jesus is calling you to do today. Maybe it’s not quitting a job, but it might feel just as terrifying. Maybe He’s asking you to forgive, to let go, say yes, or step out.

Whatever it is, know this:

Faith will always feel like a risk, but it is the safest place when Jesus is the One calling you.

So, what is He whispering to you?
What boat are you clinging to that He’s asking you to step out of?

Sweet friend, don’t let fear be louder than His voice. You don’t need to see the whole path—you only need to see the One standing on the water saying, “Come.”

Take the step. Keep your eyes on Him. And just like Peter, you’ll discover that even if you start to sink, His hand will always be there to hold you.

He’s calling you, saying, “Keep going. Keep walking. I’m with you all the way.” The question isn’t whether He’ll be there—it’s whether you’ll take that first trembling step.

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For more about faith and believing for the impossible, get Holly’s book, Believing for a Miracle available in paperback and Kindle versions on Amazon.

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