Beyond the Shore: Stepping Out in Faith

stepping out in faith

The shore is a busy place where many a footprints have laid. The shore is a place where soft sand creases your feet and occasionally the water will tickle your toes. It is place where gentle winds kiss your face. It is a familiar place. It is a normal place. It is comfortable.

Beyond the shore are waves billowing on top of each other. Beyond the shore is water deeper and wider than an arm’s reach. Beyond the shore is water so powerful and unshakable. Beyond the shore is unfamiliar. Beyond the shore is uncomfortable. Beyond the shore is daunting. Moving beyond the shore takes more than a hopeful soul; it takes faith.

There are those in life who play along the shore, only allowing drops of water to cover their feet. They choose to stay on the shore because they are comfortable in only what they can see and what they are accustomed to. Many have sunk their feet deeper than they should to the easy sand beneath their feet. The moments turn into days and even into years while life passes by. Just as waves will not cease crashing and pressing higher onto the shore changing what was, so will life constantly change and move forward altering what we know. Eventually the water reaches everyone, beckoning a choice to close our eyes or to look on what lies ahead, beyond the shore.

There are those in life who go waist deep into the water, only to retreat back to the shore. They retreat back in fear. They retreat back in disappointment. They retreat back from a broken heart. They retreat back in pain. They retreat back sometimes permanently only leaving water stains on them of what could have been, should have done, and should have said.

Then there are those who run beyond the shore and dive into the waters. They are ready for what lies ahead. Their journey to that moment may have not always been a story of faith. For most it takes time to finally step out beyond the shore. The measure of faith is not in how little were are unafraid but in how much we are willing to trust the temporary unknown for the sake of God’s permanent divine plan.

We can choose to stay along the shore. Many people do.

Many people hold onto what is holding them back as if they are doing anyone a favor. Many never take hold of faith that can move mountains and faith that can move even the most fragile feet into the waters. Even those who have faith,  have human moments and allow the natural to triumph over the supernatural. We have all been there. We look at the waters and we are afraid of the unknown, yet we are known and called by name by the very one who has walked on water. We experience the hurricanes of life and we are afraid we will go under, yet we are loved by a mighty King who can calm the most violent storm with just one word. We are promised that “When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown”. (Isaiah 43:2 NLT).

Beyond the shore is a beautiful future. Beyond the shore is full of hope. Beyond the shore is destiny. Beyond the shore is a life costumed designed just for you. We must take hold of His plan. We must step out. We are not required to know all the details but to rest in the one who holds all our days. It behooves us to dig into faith. He is calling us to live beyond the shore

(beach image by me – San Francisco 2015) 

Stepping out in Faith

Take care,



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20 thoughts on “Beyond the Shore: Stepping Out in Faith

  1. This is amazing ! Great source of encouragement and a lot that made me pause and think !

  2. One word BEAUTIFUL!! Love how your posts always seem to inspire me and encourage me and I’m sure anyone who reads them! Thank you Naomi!☺️

  3. Naomi, this post is amazing. Faith is hard for me, since I’m cautious by nature. But lately overcoming fear is one of the biggest things God is doing in my life. Your post reminds me of the Hillsong Oceans Song (overplayed, but still one of my favorites!) “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders; let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me; take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.” And lastly I LOVE Isaiah 43 – that passage has carried me through many dark times!

    1. Thank you. It is the deepest post I have written so far. I was feeling discouraged by it today and feeling like maybe I should have waited to post this. Thank you for your kind words. With this post I think about the song You Make Me Brave by Bethel Music.

          1. Oh, sorry. Carolina just asked that we at least comment to tell where we’re visiting from. I wouldn’t necessarily ask the same of people who visit my blog, but I want to kindly comply with her request. 🙂

          2. Oh I am sorry. I didn’t know that either. That is good to know. I have read several of the blogs from there but I missed the specific comment to make.

  4. Love this, Naomi! I went on a Women’s Retreat to the beach with my church last Summer and this was the message. The exact same message. Thank you so much for the encouragement. So beautiful.

  5. Living beyond the shore with you Naomi. What a beautiful devotion today. Thank you so much for linking this up to Open Mic Monday for the soul at Cisneros Cafe. It is truly a blessing. Have a great rest of your week, beautiful friend.

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