Taking That Leap of Faith
Brittany Maher & Cassandra Speer
4 min read ⭑
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. —Isaiah 26:3,4
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. —Proverbs 3:5,6
Once we say yes to God’s call, one that feels bigger than we know how to pursue, there’s an electrifying moment as we stand on the borders of coming change. Just a heartbeat away from stepping into something new and unknown. It’s a mixture of fear, excitement and anticipation. We often call this the “leap of faith.” But what does that leap truly entail?
The apostle Peter had just such a defining moment of faith when he stepped out of the boat to walk on water toward Jesus (Matthew 14:29). Can you imagine what he felt in that moment? Completely unsure if he would succeed but completely sure that his Lord had him every step of the way. And, by the way, this wasn’t a casual stroll; it was a bold step filled with trust, fraught with doubt and defying all human logic.
In that fleeting moment, Peter exemplified what it means to take a leap of faith, to move forward even when the odds, and perhaps even our own understanding, are against us. That’s the essence of the leap. It’s an action, not based on what we see or feel, but on whom we trust.
Peter Conlan; Unsplash
Notice the two-part theme here. Trusting and taking action are dance partners when it comes to fulfilling our God-given purpose. One leads, and the other follows. But both are essential to the completion of the dance.
Trust lies at the very core of our faith. It’s the bedrock upon which our relationship with God is built. Without trust, faith wanes and our foundation can become shaky. Imagine trust as the anchor that steadies a ship amid tumultuous waves; it grounds us and keeps us from being swayed by the winds. Trust isn’t passive; it’s a conscious choice.
Trust alone, though, without actions, can leave us stagnant. Faith, true faith, is active. It’s a dynamic interplay of belief and deed. When James said, “Faith apart from works is useless” (James 2:20), he emphasized that our trust in God propels us into purposeful action. Think of Moses at the Red Sea. Yes, he trusted God, but he also had to act and stretch out his staff over the waters. Esther trusted God, but she also approached the king, risking her life for her people. Trust set the stage, but action played out the scene.
Often, when we think of taking a leap of faith, our minds come up with images of audacious jumps into the unknown, a blind plunge into uncharted territories. But what if we told you that most of our spiritual leaps, our demonstrations of bold trust in action, are actually the culmination of countless smaller, intentional moments of growth, trust and surrender? What, if all along, the Lord has been preparing us?
Peter’s step out of the boat and onto the turbulent waters on the surface appeared as a massive leap of faith. But let’s not forget the fact that Peter literally walked with the Savior of the world. The experiences, lessons and moments he encountered with Jesus all led up to that defining event. He’d witnessed Jesus turning water into wine, feeding thousands with a meager offering and healing the sick and afflicted. Peter had shared meals with him, engaged in deep conversations and marveled at the profound wisdom Jesus imparted. Each of these moments was a thread that strengthened Peter’s bond of trust with Jesus, fostering an understanding that Christ was who he said he was.
“Each act of overcoming fear and stepping into faith is a crucial building block in God’s larger plan.”
It wasn’t a subtle impulse that propelled Peter out of the boat; it was a reservoir of experiences with Jesus that rendered him hopelessly lost without Jesus. This leap was just the outward manifestation of the trust he’d been building over time — or, rather, the trust Jesus had been building in him.
Think of it like a dam. Over time, water (or, in this case, trust) builds up behind the dam, accumulating with every experience and every testimony. And then, at the opportune moment, the dam’s gates are opened and the water rushes forward. That’s Peter stepping out of the boat. The trust had been building, and this was its powerful release.
The misconception we often carry is that faith is about one giant leap.
Instead, faith is cultivated in the everyday moments, in the quiet times of prayer, in the times of waiting, worship and in the moments of surrender.
It’s in these moments that we’re primed and prepared for the times we’re called to step out in boldness.
Peter’s step onto the water wasn’t his first act of faith. It was a significant one, but it was built on a foundation of countless moments of trust and surrender. And perhaps the most beautiful aspect of this is that Jesus was there for every single one of those moments, teaching, guiding and preparing Peter, along with the other disciples.
In reflecting on Peter’s story and my (Britt’s) own, it's clear that every small act of obedience and every moment of trust plays a significant role in answering God’s call. From the quiet reflections in a bookstore to the decisive steps toward writing, these experiences illustrate how our callings unfold through life’s simple interactions and the Spirit’s quiet nudges. Each act of overcoming fear and stepping into faith is a crucial building block in God’s larger plan. . . .
It’s essential to recognize that our spiritual endurance and ability to rise above challenges are constructed from these small, yet powerful, moments. Embrace this incremental journey of faith and trust, knowing that God is actively shaping you for the challenges and triumphs that lie ahead.
Brittany Maher (Britt) is the founder and president of Her True Worth, a large and growing online community designed to liberate an entire generation of faith-filled women with the freedom found in discovering their true worth in Christ. She and her husband Ryan invest most of their time in equipping and empowering God's people for digital evangelism across the globe. Brittany is planted in Michigan with her husband, Ryan, and their daughter, Ariana.
Cassandra Speer (Cass) is a bestselling author, dynamic Bible teacher, host of the Hard and Holy podcast, and vice president of Her True Worth, a global ministry encouraging women to find their identity and validation in Christ alone. With a deep passion for the weary and wounded, Cassandra writes to offer hope and practical biblical encouragement to those searching for faith in the midst of life’s challenges. She lives in Oklahoma City with her husband and their three rowdy and wonderful children.
Taken from “Ready As You Are” by Cassandra Speer and Brittany Maher. Copyright ©2025. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson.
