They may be won without a word by the behavior of their wives, as they observe your chaste and respectful behavior.
—1 Peter 3:1–2 NASB
MANY PEOPLE CRAVE AN INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP with God but simply don’t know how to go about it. Asking him for help in that area is a good place to start. Being open to experiencing God is another.
Turning off the light and placing her book on the nightstand, Rebecca prayed before going to sleep, “Lord, I want to spend time with you first thing tomorrow morning. Please help me get up!” She closed her eyes and imagined herself, child-sized and cradled in the lap of God, himself. She envisioned the Creator of the universe gently stroking her hair until she fell asleep . . .
Hours later, Rebecca awoke in the dark. She rolled over to look at the alarm clock. Two minutes remained before her alarm would sound. Tempted to close her eyes and then hit the snooze a few times, she nevertheless sat up in bed and shut off the alarm. God was faithful to her prayer. The least she could do, her little part, was actually get out of bed. She looked over at her husband and saw Jack still sleeping. Without a noise, she sneaked out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
After brewing the coffee and pouring herself a cup, Rebecca sat down in her favorite chair and read that day’s date in J. Oswald Chambers’s My Utmost for His Highest. Since it was the twenty-first day of the month, she then read that chapter of Proverbs, the great book of wisdom, as was her habit. Wanting to understand the man Jesus, who was also God, she turned to the story where Jesus walked on water and encouraged Peter to do the same. She then moved to one of her favorite parts of her daily time with God: that of imagining herself inside the story, as if she were actually there with Christ—a prayer method practiced and described by St. Ignatius.
She closed her eyes, imagined herself in the boat with the other disciples, and saw Jesus walking toward her across the lake. Mist surrounds him, and she can see his bare feet on the surface of the water as if it were solid glass covered by half an inch of liquid. “Come,” he says to her, and she grabs the rough wooden side of the boat and takes a step confidently onto the wet surface. She doesn’t sink. Lost in the imagery, her heart begins to race. Rebecca looks up, and her eyes lock with the incredible power emanating from the deep pools of his eyes.
Her knees shake, and she looks away, intimidated. She sees waves forming in the water around her. The wind begins to blow. Spray from the water stings her skin like needles. Her hair catches in her mouth as she glimpses what appear to be hideous faces on the cusps of the waves. The snarling mouths gape open, and razor-sharp teeth reach for her shins and ankles. Horrified, she looks up at Jesus and, starting to sink, thrusts her hands out toward him.
“Lord, save me!” she cries. He grasps her firmly and pulls her to her feet. “You of little faith,” he says to her, “why did you doubt?”
Rebecca sat quietly, sensing a lesson from God. “Teach me,” she prayed. Moments passed, and just as she had nearly decided that she should probably just ponder what she’d read and experienced for the day, she felt a sense of knowing that she needed to “just get out of the boat.” “Where?” she asked, and images for a children’s program at her church started to flood her mind.
“Thank You, Father,” she whispered.
Rebecca heard Jack’s footsteps in the hall stop, and she knew he was watching her pray. After thanking God for their time together this morning, and pleased she had been a witness to her husband in such a small and simple way, she raised her head, opened her eyes, and greeted her husband. She couldn’t wait to talk to him about what she thought she was being led to do. She knew also that if God confirmed it through Jack and perhaps a few other circumstances, she would be on the right track.
BOTTOM LINE: Cultivate your own relationship with God, and he will influence others through you. Your steps in life will also be more certain as you are listening to him.
SO WHAT ABOUT YOU?
1. What spoke to you about Rebecca’s story?
2. Read Matthew 14:22–33.
3. Imagine yourself in Peter’s place, as Rebecca did, and wait at the end of the experience.
4. What, if anything, happened? Did you hold back, or were you freely transparent with him? Did you feel silly, waiting for something to happen? Did you allow yourself to be vulnerable and authentic?
5. Why do you think it went the way it did?
Do not feel badly if your experience was less than you had hoped. Perhaps at the very least, you realize how comfortable you are being vulnerable with God.
Today your dare is simple, but perhaps not easy. Take a quantum leap outside your comfort zone and ask God to create in you a soul that longs to experience his presence. Pray he awakens you in the morning to spend time with him. Ask God to help you carve out moments to be with him.