I love Luke’s telling of the story of the meet up with Jesus and Peter. As we step into the scene down by the Sea of Galilee, we find Jesus preaching in a boat and a band of fishermen tending to their nets. After a long night of fishing these guys’ were cleaning, stretching, drying, rolling up and storing their nets to get ready for another go round. While they were tending to their nets, removing the seaweed and other goodies dredged up from the water, they were listening to what Jesus had to say.

Standing in the boat belonging to Simon (Peter), Jesus asks him to put out a little from the land. Jesus continues teaching.

Peter is working and listening, working and listening.

When Jesus stops speaking, He said to Peter, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” Jesus basically says, “Hey Peter, let’s go fishing!”

How do you respond to a question like that?

Peter and his gang were tired and responded something like this, “Jesus we just cleaned and dried and dried our nets. We’ve been working hard all night and haven’t caught anything…are you kidding? You want me to do what?” This is important because the reason they fished at night is the fish came to the surface when it was cooler. When you fish with a net, you fished at night in this region.

Jesus is asking Peter to go fishing when you’re not supposed to go fishing. Jesus is asking Peter to step away from something he’s done time and time again and do it a different way – Jesus’s way. Peter is probably having thoughts like, “what does a carpenter know about fishing?” and “people are gonna think I’m crazy!” Right?

As ridiculous this request was to Peter, he decides to take a chance on Jesus. Imagine what was at stake for Peter?

Here’s what happened when he decided on Jesus…they caught so many fish that their nets began to break. Even with the help of others, there was so much fish that the boats almost sank.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” In that moment Peter, for the first time, recognized who Jesus was! This was the beginning of Peter’s relationship with Jesus!

Jesus brings us all to this place. The place of trusting Him. The place where Jesus builds faith in us. As we begin to enter in relationship with Jesus, faith initially comes by hearing and following initially begins with listening.

I was in the midst of a nasty divorce and it was really wearing me out so I decided to go on a hike. I really needed to clear my thoughts and getting up on top of the mountains usually is a great remedy. What I didn’t realize is that God was smiling a bit because He had planned this. Here is where that story begins in my book Heartstone:

We finished lunch with a couple of other hikers on the back deck of the AMC hut and began our final ascent. It was getting colder, and we began putting on warmer gear as we navigated through more snow and ice. With the thinning of the air, the tighter gripping of the cold, and the thickening silence, an overwhelming desire to run ahead came over me. I motioned to my friend that I was going to run up ahead a bit, which he had no issue with. Closing in on the summit, with my heart pounding and my lungs stinging from the cold air, I somehow knew that a milestone of this journey was at hand. I saw a large rock come into view, converging with my path, and I soon found myself standing upon this large rock. It was as if the Lord had gone ahead and had prepared this place of peaceful solitude and comfort so I could clearly hear His voice without all the other distractions. Standing there upon the rock, I took a deep breath, lifted my head to the Heavens, and began to have a conversation with Him. Time relaxed for a moment. It was awesome.

It was here at this place of desolation, on this rock, on this mountain, where He spoke to my heart. Do you want to know what He said to me? He asked me to collect four stones when I got to the top of the mountain. So, standing in my own strength, leaning on my own understanding and ending the tranquil scene He had prepared for me, my response was, “You want me to do what?”

I have hiked, prayed, picked up stones time and time again. Jesus asked me to step out of the marked path, which you’re not supposed to do. Jesus asked me to step away from something I’ve done time and time again and do it a different way – Jesus’s way.

I share the rest of the story in my book Heartstone, but since I decided to take a chance on Jesus in that moment, as ridiculous as it sounded, my life has never been the same! God has opened doors for getting a book published speaking engagements, leadership opportunities and many more awesome adventures.

In that moment, for the first time, I recognized who Jesus was! This was the beginning of my relationship with Jesus!

Peter, like you and me, had no idea what hung in the balance on a single decision. To do something that we’ve done over and over again, a thousand times, in a way we’ve never done it before simply because Jesus asks us to.

Many of us sign up for this Jesus thing and never really have a relationship with Him. It’s not until moments like these when we take a practical step of faith where eyes and heart are finally opened to who Jesus really is. It’s the impact moment when we step into relationship with Him. It’s that impact moment when we go on adventure with Him.

Following Jesus doesn’t begin with the leave-your-whole-world-lifestyle, it begins with information and listening to Him. Real faith is built on truth, teaching, learning and listening. Jesus will always build faith in you.

So are you ready to take a chance on Jesus even when He asks you to do something you’ve always done a thousand times a different way? Even though it sounds ridiculous?