Stop waiting for the perfect moment that never comes.

We spend our whole lives waiting. Waiting for the perfect moment, the perfect time, the perfect life…

We tell ourselves,

“Once I have more money, then I’ll start.”

“Once I feel ready, then I’ll take the leap.”

“Once life slows down, then I’ll finally pursue what God put on my heart.”

But the “perfect” moment we’re looking for? It rarely ever comes because there will always be something…some risk, fear, some unknown, making it feel like now isn’t the time.

When studying this topic, I was brought to the story of Peter stepping out of the boat in Matthew 14:22-33. The timing could not have been worse. There was a storm raging, the wind was howling, and walking on water was something that had never been done before, at least, not by anyone except Jesus.

Yet when Jesus called Peter, He didn’t wait for the waves to calm or the clouds to part. He simply said one word: “Come.”

Peter had a choice. He could wait for the perfect moment, for the storm to die down and the winds to ease, or he could trust Jesus in the middle of the storm and take the first step.

Ultimately, Peter chose to step out. Imperfectly. Unsurely. In conditions that made no logical sense. And as long as his eyes stayed on Jesus, he walked on water.

Something stuck out to me when studying this story.

Jesus didn’t say, “Come, but only once it’s safe.” He didn’t promise a perfect set of circumstances before asking Peter to move. He simply invited him to trust.

And God does the same with us. He doesn’t always wait until life is calm to call us. In fact, He often calls us in the middle of the chaos, because that’s when our dependence on Him is the strongest.

Ecclesiastes 11:4 says, “Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” In other words, if you keep waiting for every condition to be ideal, you’ll miss the harvest altogether.

This story teaches us that you don’t have to have everything together before you obey God. You don’t need the perfect plan, the perfect qualifications, or the perfect peace in your circumstances. You just need to trust the One who’s calling you.

Take the step now, not when everything is “ready.” Truthfully, it will never be fully ready. The perfect moment isn’t found in flawless timing; it’s found in faithful obedience.

God can do far more with your imperfect step of faith than you could ever do with a lifetime of perfect intentions.

So stop waiting. Start walking. The waves may be high, but the One who calls you is higher still.