Trust Fall: Overboard Faith

Have you ever had to step into something completely out of your comfort zone? Maybe the Holy Spirit was nudging you, and you couldn’t explain why you said yes, it just felt like a spiritual trust fall. Then when it was over, the only words you had left were: “But God!”

That’s what I mean by Overboard Faith. It’s when you step out into deep waters, far past your own ability, and God shows up in a way only He can.

Think of Elijah calling down fire against the prophets of Baal:
1 Kings 18:37
Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that You are the Lord God, and that You have turned their hearts back to You again.” 38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood and the stones and the dust, and it licked up the water that was in the trench. 39 Now when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, “The Lord, He is God! The Lord, He is God!”

And then fire fell, consuming the altar, the wood, even the water in the trench! The people fell on their faces declaring, “The Lord, He is God!” (vs 38-39)

That’s a “But God!” moment.

We see them throughout the Bible:

• The 10 plagues in Egypt → But God!
• Samson’s strength → But God!
• David defeating Goliath → But God!
• Your own salvation story → But God!

This isn’t just Bible history, it’s personal. Think about it:

• You applied for a job you had no business getting… and you got it. But God!
• A relationship worked out that seemed impossible. But God!
• You or someone you love made a bold move that made no sense until God opened the way.

In Matthew 14, we meet Peter in the middle of a stormy sea. Jesus is walking on the water, and Peter does something wild, he steps out of the boat to go meet Him.
Overboard Faith isn’t safe faith. It doesn’t wait until the waves calm down. It says, “Lord, if it’s You, call me out!” and then actually takes the step.

Matthew 14:22-33
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”

The disciples had faced storms before, but this one was different. Fear blinded them to the fact that the same Jesus who fed 5,000 was still with them.

Faith Will Be Tested
Your faith will be tested—that’s a guarantee. Notice that this storm on the Sea of Galilee came right after the miracle of feeding the 5,000.

It’s easy to trust when Jesus is right in front of us, multiplying loaves and fish, doing all the work. But what about when He feels absent? What about when the storm rolls in and you can’t see Him anywhere? That’s when trust fall faith becomes overboard faith.
It’s in those moments that you discover it really is God and God alone.

Naaman, a Syrian commander, came to the prophet Elisha desperate to be healed of leprosy. He showed up in full parade, horses, chariots, the whole display of power. But Elisha didn’t even come to the door. He just sent a message: “Go wash yourself seven times in the Jordan River, and you’ll be healed.”
Naaman was furious. This wasn’t how he pictured his miracle. He wanted fireworks, a dramatic prayer, a hand wave that instantly healed him. Instead, God’s answer was simple obedience to a humble command.

Sound familiar? The disciples strained at the oars in the storm, probably thinking, “Jesus, what have You done? Why send us out here?”

We do the same thing:

• “Lord, You gave me this job, but now I’m overwhelmed, what have You done?”
• “God, You called me into this relationship, but it’s harder than I thought, what have You done?”

Naaman nearly missed his healing because pride blinded him. He stormed off in anger, ready to give up. But his servants reasoned with him: “If the prophet had asked you to do something difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? How much more when all he asked was, ‘Wash and be clean’?”

Naaman finally obeyed. He dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, and on the seventh time he came up healed, his skin like a child’s. His pride had to die before his healing could come.

Overboard Faith Is God Alone
Right now, some of us are like Naaman, so proud that we almost miss what God is asking of us because it’s too simple or too humbling. Others of us are like the disciples, struggling at the oars, frustrated, exhausted, wondering why God would let us row against the storm.

But here’s the truth:
Overboard faith doesn’t rest on your position, your strength, or your ability to figure things out. It’s not about your title, your income, or your influence.
God will often let us come to the end of ourselves before He moves, so that when He does, there’s no mistaking it. When He shows up in your storm, or in your sickness, or in your struggle, you’ll be able to say with certainty:
Overboard Faith is God and God alone.

Peter didn’t wait for a safe moment. He moved while the storm was raging. That’s the essence of faith: walking by faith, not sight (2 Cor. 5:7).

The other eleven disciples stayed in the boat, clinging to safety. But Peter, even in his hesitation, chose to move toward Jesus.

Matthew 14:27-29
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

Even in Peter’s question, “Lord, if it’s You…” we see both doubt and faith. He knew that if it really was Jesus, then Jesus could do what only God can do: call him into the impossible.
This is faith in action. It doesn’t wait for conditions to be perfect. It moves on God’s command.

Faith That Makes No Sense
Think about it:

• A virgin gives birth to the Son of God.
• Jesus chooses fishermen, tax collectors, and nobodies to be His disciples.
• God blinds Saul, the enemy of the church, and turns him into Paul, the missionary who writes half the New Testament.

Faith always looks unreasonable from the outside.
And we still see it today:

• Marriages restored when there seemed to be no hope.
• Prodigals coming home.
• People receiving salvation in the very last moments of life, like the thief on the cross.
• Healing breaking through after every doctor said it was impossible.
• Finances provided just in time.

Every one of these moments whispers the same truth: God, it can only be You.

Walking Toward Jesus
When Peter climbed out of the boat, he wasn’t just testing the water, he was testing his faith. And for a few miraculous steps, he actually walked on the sea.
That’s what overboard faith looks like. It doesn’t wait until it all makes sense. It doesn’t wait until the storm dies down. It steps out at God’s word and trusts Him to do what only He can do.

It’s the same kind of faith the bleeding woman had when she reached for the hem of Jesus’ garment. The same kind of faith the widow showed when she gave her last mite. The same kind of faith that continues to inspire millions through their stories.

Overboard Faith doesn’t wait for calm seas. It moves when Jesus says, “Come.”

Peter sank when fear got louder than faith, but Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. The miracle wasn’t just walking on water, it was trusting Jesus enough to get out of the boat in the first place.

This is Peter’s Elijah moment.
Remember Elijah in 1 Kings 19? One day he’s calling down fire from heaven, slaughtering false prophets, standing boldly in God’s power. The next day, at Jezebel’s threat, he runs into the wilderness, hides under a broom tree, and begs to die.

How quickly the mighty can sink when their eyes shift from God to circumstances!
God had just sent fire, consumed the water, proved His victory. And yet Elijah cried out, “I’m all alone!”
Really, Elijah? Did you part the heavens? Did you ignite the altar? Was that your strength?
Really, Peter? Did you feed 5,000 before this storm? Did you calm the sea before you stepped out? Was it your power holding you up?

We get like that too:

• “God, it’s just me!”
• “I can’t do this anymore.”
• “The storm’s too strong. The fear’s too real. The pressure’s too much.”

And God answers gently but firmly:

• “I knit you together in the womb.”
• “I know every hair on your head, even the real color.”
• “The breath in your lungs? That’s Mine. The job, the provision, the healing, the children, they’re Mine too.”
• “You are never alone.”

As David declared:

“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.” (Psalm 94:18–19)

Overboard Faith
Storms will rock us. Winds will howl. But faith, real faith, moves anyway. It falls, but it falls into Jesus’ arms.
That’s why I call it trust fall faith.

Faith doesn’t mean you never feel fear. It means you move through fear. You risk stepping out when the waves are high. You trust Jesus even if you stumble, because you know His hand is already reaching to catch you.

We admire Peter for walking on the water. But the greater miracle? That he trusted Jesus enough to leave the boat in the first place.
Maybe you’re standing at the edge right now, between safety and surrender. The boat feels safer, but the Savior is out on the water.

Faith always requires leaving the boat, your place of security. Maybe for you it’s:

• A job application you’ve been scared to submit.
• A relationship you need to step into (or out of).
• A ministry opportunity you’ve been resisting.
• A move, a risk, a conversation you know God is calling you to.

Faith doesn’t mean fear disappears. It means you choose to move through the fear, trusting that Jesus already has His hand reaching out to you.

• Apply for the opportunity.
• Say yes to God’s call.
• Start the conversation.
• Take the step.

Your knees may shake, the waves may roar, but you’ll find that Jesus is already there, waiting to pull you up. Because at the end of it all, every act of Overboard Faith ends with the same testimony:
“But God!”