Lyric/poem inspired by “Leap of Faith” by Sue Riley (words by Sue Riley and Leddy Hammock):
Long before the morning, not yet light enough to see, darkest before the dawning, Your love can still find me.
When the wind’s against my vessel and the seas are tempest-tossed, I see You walking on the water. I hear You calling me across to make a leap of faith.
Well, You know that I have been wandering—uncertain choices I’ve made and that always gets me to wondering. You tell me, “Don’t be afraid!” I’ll find the faith to believe, when the winds are too strong, that You hold onto me, when I can’t hold on.
When the deep is dark beneath me and the waves leap high and rough You stretch out Your hand to reach me, when my faith’s not enough. I know I can change my thinking and turn my life around, for, when I felt like I was sinking, I heard, “Why did you look down? Take a leap of faith!”
Responsive Reading for March 20
“Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it” (Mt. 14:22-3).
Long before the morning, not yet light enough to see, darkest before the dawning, Your love can still find me.
“During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. ‘It is a ghost,’ they said, and they cried out in fear. At once [Jesus] spoke to them, ‘Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid’” (Mt. 14:25-7).
When the wind’s against my vessel and the seas are tempest-tossed,
I see You walking on the water. I hear You calling me across to make a leap of faith.
“Peter said to him in reply, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’ He said, ‘Come.’ Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’” (Mt. 14:28-30).
Well, You know that I have been wandering—uncertain choices I’ve made
and that always gets me to wondering. You tell me, “Don’t be afraid!”
I’ll find the faith to believe, when the winds are too strong,
that You hold onto me when I can’t hold on. I’ll take a leap of faith.
“Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’ After they got into the boat, the wind died down.” (Mt. 14:31-3).
When the deep is dark beneath me and the waves leap high and rough,
You stretch out Your hand to reach me, when my faith is not enough.
I know I can change my thinking and turn my life around, for when I felt like I was sinking,
I heard, “Why did you look down? Take a leap of faith!”