Step Of Faith | Northstar Church

“I thought they had taken her away because she had died. It was the first time that I properly panicked. I thought I was completely on my own. For there was no question in my mind that my father and brothers were dead.” – Lucas Belon

Surrounded by her family as she relaxed by the pool on holiday, Maria Belon felt she must be the luckiest woman in the world. But as depicted in The Impossible movie, seconds later, she and her husband and three sons were swept away by a ferocious 30 foot wall of water that devoured everything in its path. Maria was swimming toward Lucas when a large second wave hit. She was dragged through a lot of rubble and hard sharp objects, critically wounding her. After the tsunami calmed down, Belón was then able to swim to land with Lucas (oldest son), only to notice her body was covered with many injuries. Her right leg having been the most damaged as it had been completely ripped open.

Maria and Lucas continued walking and looking for safety, although she was losing too much blood and her son had to help her walk. She was convinced she was dying. “Not for one second did I believe Quique (husband) and my other boys would be alive,” she said. At that point it must have been difficult to keep going. After all, what was the point of moving forward, was it worth the pain, the suffering, the risk? She decided that it was.

Here is my question for you. Is God calling you to do something for Him that makes you uncomfortable? And like Maria Belon, are you willing to step out not knowing what the future holds, what the risks are and the pain involved in the journey. Maybe we are a little hesitant, explaining to God that we are happy to follow Him, but first you need to know His plan. In other words, you need to know how you are going to get me from where you are to where you are going to be five years from now. God wants us to trust Him. Like Abraham, He wants us to step into the unknown and go where He calls us. This is why it’s called faith.

Others are afraid to step out until God qualifies them first. They want their beliefs strengthened and their imperfections cured. They rationalize that there are so many people more qualified than them. I don’t have the right stuff to do what you are asking me to do. Maybe God should choose someone else. God knows we don’t have what it takes, but He does. He wants us to trust Him. It’s all about His adequacy, not ours.

There will always be a reason not to take action. If you wait for everything to fall in place and line up perfectly to take action, we may never do anything. Without uncertainty there is no need for faith. Risk is essential for reward.

Remember the story of the woman with an issue of blood. “She said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” (Matthew 9:20-21) She did not wait on God, she didn’t hesitate, or seek approval. She stepped out on faith. She believed in her heart and soul that she was going to be healed and she went for it. The Bible states, “but Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, ‘Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.'” And the woman was made well from that hour.

God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. (Ephesians 3:20) All we have to do is tap into it.

Discussion Questions:

Do you think believing in something is the same as having faith in something? How do they differ?
Read Isaiah 43: 1-3a, 4a: What are these verses telling you?
What is the hardest thing for you to trust God with? Why do you think it’s so difficult? What might be some ways to overcome it?
What are some things that prevent people from stepping out when God calls them? What advice would you give them?
How has your faith journey been like an adventure? What “adventure” might God be asking you to step out in now?