No Backup Plan
Going All in with Jesus
by Melanie Bedogne
I had been praying for a breakthrough for several months. Circumstances in one area of my life had left me with a weary heart. For weeks, I had been waiting, praying, seeking, and believing in faith for God to show up in a way only he could. In this wilderness space, the truth of God’s faithfulness came through Scripture, in words from an encouraging friend and from his still, small voice in the quiet. Yet nothing changed. I was certain of his nearness yet saw no forward movement. I ached for a sign of hope. I felt as though I was out in the ocean in a rowboat, waiting for a rescue, with nothing in sight.
One morning in prayer, I was struck with the question: What if nothing ever changes? A fear had been unearthed from a deep place in my heart. What if I put all my trust in God’s faithfulness in my life, only to be disappointed? What if he doesn’t come through for me?
A few days later, while reading John 6, God spoke to this space in my heart, providing an unexpected strengthening of my faith and a reassurance that I was right where I needed to be.
One Life-Changing Question
After arriving in Capernaum, Jesus proclaimed his identity as the Son of God. As a result of this revelation, his listeners faced a decision—this radical teaching exacted a response. The Jews disputed his teaching, and many of his disciples grumbled about it, saying, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (John 6:60b). Being challenged to believe that Jesus was truly God, many disciples then “turned back and no longer walked with him” (v. 66).
But then something powerful happened. Amid a mass exodus of his followers, Jesus asked his closest disciples, “Do you want to go away as well?” (v. 67). He was giving his twelve disciples the opportunity to be all in or to jump ship.
A Faith Response
And Simon Peter, the same disciple who stepped out of the boat and walked on water toward Jesus in an act of faith (Matthew 14), responded at this moment with a declaration of transformative truth: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (vv. 68–69).
Simon Peter’s distinct declaration of faith and absolute dedication caused my spirit to leap. The disciples had left everything to follow Christ, and at this moment, Simon Peter expressed what we, as Christ’s followers, are also privileged to declare to Him: We are all in, Jesus. We have eliminated any possibilities of a second option, a backup plan. We are out on the water, utterly dependent on you.
Constant Surrender
As a believer in Jesus, I made a decision a long time ago to surrender my life to Christ. I stepped into the rowboat, threw away the oars, and said “YES” to him. If you have given your life to Jesus, you, too, have done the same. On our journeys of faith with Jesus, none of us can see what is ahead. Yet we do have the full assurance of his hand upon us, guiding us in doing good works here on earth (see Ephesians 2:10) and the promise that he will hold us for all eternity (see Psalm 73:24). The life of faith is a constant surrender to the one who loves us abundantly and can do all things.
I stepped into the rowboat, threw away the oars, and said “YES” to him.
Utter Trust
Often our waiting seasons are so much more about a deeper work God is doing within us than the “thing” for which we are praying. So in my space of waiting, my faith was buttressed as I emulated the faith of Simon Peter. Where else would I go, Lord? YOU have the words of eternal life. I don’t have a “Plan B”. I utterly trust in your faithfulness, your sovereignty, and your hand in my life.
And from what I know about our incredibly faithful, omnipotent, loving God, there is no more strategic or safer place to be.
Melanie Bedogne is a mom and Arkansas native who loves to share the transforming truth of God’s Word. @melaniebedogne.
Scripture quotations are from the English Standard Version of the Bible.