What if the thing keeping you stuck isn’t a lack of faith, but the direction you’ve been leaning?

Fear has a way of pulling us backward. Back toward what feels predictable. Back toward what we can control. Back into the boat when Jesus is calling us onto the water.

In Leaning Forward, Pastor Ezra looks at Peter’s unforgettable decision to step out of the boat in Matthew 14 and what it teaches us about a life of faith. Peter didn’t have every detail figured out. He didn’t know exactly how this was going to work. He simply heard Jesus say, Come, and put the weight of his life in His direction.

That’s faith.

Faith isn’t pretending you aren’t afraid. It’s deciding that the voice of Jesus carries more weight than your fear.

And maybe the most powerful part of Peter’s story isn’t that he walked on water. It’s what happened when he couldn’t anymore. Peter sank, but Jesus didn’t stand at a distance and lecture him about getting it wrong. Scripture says Jesus immediately reached out His hand and caught him.

You can take a risk and miss it.

You can step out and struggle.

You can lean forward and still have moments when you sink.

Grace is already leaning toward you.

So where have you been shrinking back? What have you been holding onto because it feels safer than obedience? And what could happen if you finally put the weight of your life in the direction of Jesus?

Don’t shrink back.

Lean forward.