In my last year of high school, as those around me began pursuing higher education, applying for universities, and planning out the next few years of their lives, I too began thinking about my next step. From a young age, I had felt called into missions and I had seen friends and leaders join Youth With A Mission in various locations around the world. I loved seeing my friends lives completely changed after they returned from their YWAM mission trips.
Whilst I didn’t know my next step, one thing was certain, I wanted to be a part of whatever it was that had transformed their lives so greatly!
Little did I know what I would be getting myself into.
I began to research a couple of countries that I had always wanted to visit – surely God knew I wanted to travel. Although I was looking at locations in western Europe God began altering my research to YWAM Newcastle, Australia.
There was one problem that arose… I didn’t want to go to Australia. There are spiders, and sharks, and snakes. Oh my!
I was afraid to leave home and not move into what I had planned for my own life. The idea of going to a university sounded comfortable and safe, whereas the risk of letting go of the control over my own life and stepping into the mission field, sounded daunting!
I was afraid of the unknown.
Why did I feel like I needed to hold back from God? Why couldn’t I just step out in obedience to what He was clearly calling me to?
I had lived my whole life in the same place, but was I ready to leave it all? As fear crept up on me, I remembered back to my childhood Sunday service stories where I had been taught about Peter stepping onto the water when he saw Jesus approaching during the storm.
“But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.”
– Matthew 14:26-29
Sure, Peter questioned if it was the Lord who was on the water, but He trusted God above his own fear of the storm that surrounded him. All it took was for Jesus to say one word: “Come”, and just like that, Peter jumped out and started walking towards Him, no questions asked. When Peter stepped into the unknown, he didn’t just step out and stand there, he continued to walk towards Jesus keeping his eyes on the Lord.— I knew, despite my fear of the future, that the God who was calling me was the same God who had called Peter out on the water. This was the same God who caught him when he began to fall.
The Lord said “Come” and now it was my turn to decide if I would follow Him in faith.
So, I did one of the toughest things I have ever had to do. I chose to step out of the comfort zone of the boat I stood in and give it all to God. As I did, the impossible took place. He began providing, blessing, and confirming every step I took as I walked into His plan.
Through His blessings every single day, He pushed out all my fears and replaced it with excitement and trust.
Now, with whatever God calls me to next, I am ready to take the step of faith and trust that my God will catch me.
by Bailey Scully
YWAM DTS – Trailblazer student
