Last year, my friend Shauna Wallace encouraged us to be bold by being ourselves. I’m happy to welcome Shauna back to the #BeBoldGirl series to hear how she continues to walk this out by faith.
I so relate to Jesus’ disciple Peter: bold, passionate, sometimes rash, saying and promising some pretty impressive things Jesus corrects and rebukes. I’m just like him! The fact that Jesus mightily uses Peter in spite of his well-intentioned but misguided escapades gives me great hope as I continue learning how to be boldly me. See if you relate too.
When Jesus miraculously walks on squalling waters to reach His disciples’ boat, they fear He’s a ghost. Ever the bold one, Peter challenges Jesus to prove Himself by commanding him to walk on water too. Jesus does, and Peter walks on water! Until boisterous winds frighten him. As he sinks, Jesus reaches out and catches him, saying, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:24-31).
How many times does my faith falter at the first sign of circumstantial instability and Jesus rescues me, saying, “O you of little faith! Why do you doubt?”
When Jesus foretells His suffering, death and resurrection, look at Peter’s and Jesus’ bold exchange:
Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men” (Matthew 16:22-23). (ESV)
How many times do I take Jesus aside and insist I know better than Him because I’m mindful of the things of men and not of God?
What about when Peter adamantly insists he won’t deny Jesus even if he has to die (Matthew 26:35), and then he denies Jesus three times (Matthew 26:57-75)? In the heat of an uncomfortable or threatening moment, how many times do I do exactly what I swear I won’t?
I guess being like Peter is part of being boldly who God made me to be; it’s also boldly being who He’s calling me to be regardless of His plans for anyone else. Even if my path looks completely different and I think I want their path instead of mine!
In this last example, Jesus’ words to Peter cut like a knife (in a good way, like a scalpel cutting out a cancerous tumor). Jesus is resurrected but not yet ascended and shows Himself to His disciples. He asks Peter three times if he loves Him, to which Peter responds, “You know that I love You.” When Jesus prophecies Peter’s violent death, what does Peter do? He turns and looks at John and wants to know, “But Lord, what about this man?” (John 21:21).
Oh my gosh!!! I do this too!!! The Lord tells me what He requires of me and I say super holy things like:
But Lord, what about that person?!?! What are you going to require of them?
Why don’t they have to do what You’re telling me to do?!?!
Why can’t I do what’s okay for them?
Why are they experiencing the success I want? Why aren’t You doing for me what You’re doing for them?
Do you ever do that too?
Jesus’ answer to Peter is His answer to us:
“If I will that he (John) remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me” (John 21:22). (ESV)
What is it to you, Shauna, what I do or require of another? You follow Me.
Part of being boldly me – part of you being boldly you – is boldly doing the things the Lord asks specifically of us, even if He’s not asking anyone else. Even if it means following alone, risking faith, believing something no one else can see, believe or understand, or doing something that appears foolish.
Tweet ThisSometimes like Peter we will boldly stumble, and Jesus will rebuke and redirect us. But like He did for Peter at Pentecost, Jesus sends His power upon us to boldly follow Him, boldly speak His word, boldly testify of Him, and boldly be exactly who He made us to be for His exact purpose and plan.
Be bold, girl, knowing God will boldly do what no one else can in us so He can boldly do what we could never do without Him!
Early in life, Shauna Wallace became an expert at learning things the hard way! In her thirties, she started approaching God’s word as a way of life and experiencing His faithfulness as a matter of fact. Now, she hopes her hard lessons can become another’s blessings! By sharing scriptural truths through the lens of her life story, she longs to see women love Jesus more, draw nearer, go deeper, believe bigger and live freer! Wife to James and Mama to four high school and adult children plus a “son-in-love,” home is Shauna’s happy place. There you’ll find her juggling her many hats, including home schooling and helping out with the family-owned custom home building business, all while setting aside the wee hours of the day to be in God’s presence, study her Bible and write. Her newest Bible study 30 Days to Living a God Life not Just a Good Life for individual and group study is now available on amazon.com. You can follow her blog and learn more about her other books at shaunawallace.com.
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Linking up with Holly Barrett at #TestimonyTuesday and Holley Gerth at #CoffeeForYourHeart
Hi Shauna and Rachel, thank you for this well-timed word. Just recently I’ve been asking God, ‘what bold thing are you calling me to do’? And when the answer came, I struggled. I don’t feel either equipped or ready, and I wonder if maybe someone else can do this bold thing. But God has called ME and I want to show up in a bold way for Him and for the one He’s called me to minister to. Thank you for this encouragement.
I know that struggle all too well. He will equip you, Marva. Be bold.
Hi Marva, thank you so much for sharing! One of the hardest things to do for me in the face of what appears too big or what is uncomfortable or unknown to me is to trust Him and simply obey because He will do it all! He’s teaching me that’s the way He wants it so it can be all Him and He can get the glory – from us and others! May the adventure you are about to embark on with Him bring you closer to Him and take you deeper so that you can believe bigger!!! Blessings! Shauna
Yeah, I struggle with comparing or wondering why they do something I can’t. Ugh. I know better! My life is my life and I am here for Jesus!
Sarah, the struggle is real isn’t it? I have noticed the Lord is teaching me gratitude when I’m tempted to compare or wonder. I’ve always wondered what it would be like not to work…just to focus on being a wife and mom. It used to cause me a lot of discontentment as I compared and wondered. And then the Lord basically told me that’s not the life He called me to, and I started thanking Him for all He’s done and equipped me with to do what He has before me. I love what you said: “My life is my life and I am here for Jesus. We should put that on a bumper sticker! Thanks for sharing! Blessings, Shauna
Love this Shauna as I’m a Peter too, questioning God like I know so much better! Thanks for sharing how to be bold is just bolding following without questioning. Thanks Rachel for sharing Shauna’s words with us!
Jill, it’s so easy to do, isn’t it? I am thankful for His grace to show me when I’m relying on my own understanding of things and steer my focus back to Him! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! Blessings, Shauna
Very thought provoking to look at these specific passages back to back. Strikes me that part of being bold is going all in with where we are at that level of maturity. Sometimes that may mean we make some bold mistakes. Grateful God gives us plenty of do-overs. I loved this statement, “Be bold, girl, knowing God will boldly do what no one else can in us so He can boldly do what we could never do without Him!”
Hi Ginger! I love what you say that “part of being bold is going all in with where we are at that level of maturity. Sometimes that may mean we make some bold mistakes. Grateful God gives us plenty of do-overs.” I love that God extends is such patiemce and mercy! Thank you for sharing your thoughts! Blessings, Shauna
I have learned to be bolder. I don’t like learning the hard way. If I had to be a disciple, I’d go for John, whom Jesus loved. He loved them all but John really knew it.
Rebecca, isn’t it incredible the different relationships Jesus had with His disciples? It shows us so much about Him. I am pondering what you said about John really knowing Jesus loved him. The tremendous impact of knowing Jesus’ love really changes things, doesn’t it? Thank you for sharing. Blessings! Shauna
Rachel and Shauna, what a fabulous post! Yes, I see much of myself in Peter, though I have never considered myself to be bold. 🙂 I love your insights, Shauna, and the ways you paint Peter’s dealings with Jesus in such real colors. I’m so thankful we can be brutally real with Jesus, even when we are really wrong. He redirects us and points us back to His truth and His love. Thank you for these reminders today!
Rachel, I’m so glad I was your neighbor at Holly’s place today!
Thanks, Jeanne. Shauna’s insights really spoke to me, too.
Thank you, Jeanne. I LOVE this: ” I’m so thankful we can be brutally real with Jesus, even when we are really wrong. He redirects us and points us back to His truth and His love.” The grace of God is truly overwhelming. Thank you for sharing your heart. Blessings! Shauna
Right now I’m leading the women in my church in a study of I Peter, so this reflection on Peter’s Intro. to Boldness class was timely and greatly appreciated!
Michele, there’s just something about Peter that’s so real. I love when God’s timing is perfect. I hope your study is great! Blessings, Shauna