Taking the Leap Series: 2 of 6
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them,(Matthew 4:18-21)
Let’s begin with one of the most common leaps that people feel they are called. I like to call this leap, The Fisherman. This leap comes from Matthew 4:18-21 when Jesus calls Peter, Andrew, James, and John to fully leave their careers and start to follow Him, becoming His disciples.
These men, as we may know, were fishermen by trade. There are different debates about whether this was a wealthy career or if it was one that barely supplied their basic living needs, but one thing that can’t be debated is that it was a job. You had to be trained in how to be a good fisherman, and I believe that training started when they were quite young.
Here is what I’d like to think, when Jesus went to look for who would be a good fisher of men, He first examined who was a good fisher of fish. This fisherman was someone skilled in what he was already putting his hands to or someone willing to get better. He may not have always caught the fish, but he was willing to. God can always do more with our willingness than He could ever do with our worthiness. I dare to believe that if the skill wasn’t there, the willingness and fortitude were.
This is the plight of The Fisherman. It is the person that has been called to leave their career and go fully into something God has instructed them to do. This was my story. One of the things He called me to do was to minister to the Bride of Christ outside and sometimes inside the church through teaching, speaking, and writing. My training ground for this calling started when I was a young girl having lots of friends. I was known for being friendly to so many different types of people. Later in life, I realized that this helped me to better understand the people God would call me to impact and influence. I wasn’t pigeon-holed into only being able to connect intimately with one group of people. It’s beautiful how my time “fishing” prepared me to fish!
The Fisherman leap can be a bit challenging and intimidating. It can feel overwhelming as you leave everything you know and step into what you believe God has called you to. Yet the keywords here are “GOD has called you to.”
When I took this leap, I was terrified until one day someone said to me, “Rachel, God is not going to punish you for your obedience.” Those words were like a dagger to the lies of the enemy. I carried that truth through challenges and successes as I walked with God in his assignment.
I want to remind you as well that if you have been called to The Fishermen leap, although it may be uncomfortable, God is not going to punish you for your obedience. This is your chance to truly walk on water.
Are you in a season of navigating the details of the fisherman leap? If so, what part of this email resonates most for you and why? I’d love for you to reply in the blog comment section.
Rachel G. Scott
Author
About
Rachel is a wife and a mother, writer, speaker, and entrepreneur. She has been featured nationally and internationally on television, podcast, radio, devotionals, and blogs. As the Founder of the I Can’t Come Down movement, an organization dedicated to helping women walk in their purpose and assignment with focus, she is a former Huffington post contributor and current Youversion and Moody Radio Cleveland Partner. She is also part of The Well Communicators a faith-based speaking team.
Rachel is deeply devoted to serving God, loving and honoring her husband and raising her children in a Godly home where they experience authenticity and learn to embrace their imperfections.
That is a powerful message that I cannot add or subtract. I studied Animal Science, but I feel a calling towards the film industry (my leap). I feel intimidated that there are people who made a career in the film industry to higher levels, and here I am following my purpose, grabbing tips and excellent ideas here and there for my improvement. I believe that the film industry is secularised to a large extent, and I hope I will join some of the Christian filmmakers trying to make a difference with impactful stories that will draw more people to Christ. I resonate with the fear part currently, and sometimes I feel like the competition is stiff considering what I have. However, when you said when the CEO gives directives, we should not even think twice about taking action, it hit home. Thank you.
This is awesome! We definitely need more kingdom influence in the film industry. So glad this blessed you
One thing I’m hearing God telling me is I’m going to go out of the building. He is equipping me with tools with intercessor prayer group, mission trips, and relationships. I’ve been in same church community for 15 years and hair stylist for 11 years as a business owner. Undergoing transformation has become an adventure of not knowing what comes next, just trusting and walking in obedience while focusing on growing in Holy spirit. Within the last 2 years God unlocked my identity, my voice, now my dreams after walking through many trials most of my life. I’ve been mom to 11 children ( 5 birth given) and now have 4 grandchildren who love the Lord. My life has been a sacrifice and I am not my own. My focus is on kingdom purposes one day at a time while abiding in God’s presence. My primary gift is loving others.
Wow! I love how you said that your life is a sacrifice. That is exactly how we should all view our lives.
This speaks to where I am right now! I have an editorial business and dream of that becoming my main income. It’s not there yet, but in an unusual turn of events, I quit my job and feel called to be self-employed rather than look for another full-time job.
God is providing the work I need while I work on my business. And what should be (and at first was) terrifying, now just feels right. I thank God for this time of complete reliance on Him as my provider as my faith and trust grows daily.
Thank you for this message and your willingness to be used by God to speak words of faith and encouragement.
Confirmation is always a blessing and don’t you just love when God truly shows his faithfulness!
That is very awesome the way Jesus saw things I never saw it that way He came to do His Father Will so did He know that these men were willing to follow only by He asking them or did He see into hearts saw they were devoted into what they seeking for fish with out stopping I am still trying to figure out what Jesus Jesus has called me to do I always been a caregiver and I am sick of it I did it mostly for the elderly until one passed away then my son when they graduated him out of school trying to help him be cautious of
Many things I been abused in many ways I was to trusting been married three times divorced my sons dad he was an alcoholic I could not have him trying to push me into what he wanted me for not as a person the man other 2 passed away I just don’t want to go that direction I lost my dream of being in a happy living family 3 siblings wants nothing to do with me no more one does but she like to tell me what is the right thing to do I am the oldest of 5 siblings all I know is hard times now I got to move start over again I been waiting since October 2019 I am almost there I hope and pray 🙏 🙏🙏🙌🏼❣️❣️❣️
Thank you for sharing some of your story. You sound like a true overcomer. Praying that God will guide and lead you into his perfect plan.
Thank you so much Rachel for this message! Like Michelle Wrigley, it spoke to exactly where I am right now, The Fisherman Leap. I just quit my job because I know that God has called me into ministry (which I have been running from for a long time) and now is the time to step out of the boat and trust God to show me the way to fulfill my purpose. It is intimidating but I just keep reminding myself that my blessing(s) are tied to my obedience to God. Thank you for the powerful reminder that God will not punish us for being obedient. Thank you for your service to the Body of Christ!!! God bless your family and ministry!
Wow! What a leap. You have the right perspective. Remember that God is faithful. It’s such an honor for me to serve God’s people in this way!
Hello
I know this is for women but it helps and guides me as a man. The part about God can always do more with our willingness than our feeling of worthiness. This blessed me because Im often confirmed by prophets of God in detail but have a hard time feeling adequate in my skill. This will remind me that God can work with what I have . Oh and God will not punish me for being Obedient!! Geeeesh this shall be enough to get me over, the doubting and worries!! Lets Walk on That Water 💧!!!!
Larry, your contribution to this conversation was wonderful! This community is just as much for men as it is women because the call to walk in our purpose and assignment is a heavenly invitation. I am glad this blessed you.
Rachel, as always you knocked the ball out of the park as I am taking a fisherman’s leap myself. I have left a 37 year career and I know that God has plans for me if I can just stop the busyness. What spoke to me the most was “God is not going to punish you for your obedience. This is your chance to truly walk on water.” Seeing that brought me peace! Thank you so much for all that you are doing!
Lisa thank you so much and what a leap that was. I am so glad I could share the peace I experienced from those words with you!
Thank you Rachel. The entire post resonates with me. My call to Leap came in 2019 and I stepped out in faith, like Peter when Jesus bids him to come and he stepped out of the boat and onto water. The leap was terrifying as I was leaving my comfort zone and the known to take on the unknown. I spent almost 20 years in Administration and leaving that was difficult, but I knew the day was coming, I was just disobedient in not moving as I was trying to figure it out. Smile.
The pandemic came, however in all this the Lord has showed up and when I doubt the call he reminds me of the purpose of the call. My leap is a a a Life Coach, Speaker and Leadership Trainer called to serve women.
That is absolutely wonderful! I have been in your shoes with being slower to be but God knew the exact date you would fully obey him and he celebrated that day with and for you!