When our kids were little, I would put them on the kitchen counter and let them jump to me. At first, their fear limited their jumps to a couple of feet, but over time, they got to the point where they would launch themselves forward as far as they could. I was so happy to watch as they grew in confidence. And they were so happy to feel the momentary weightlessness as they flew through the air. Both my joy and theirs was dependent on them taking a risk. Neither of us would have felt that joy if they didn’t jump.
I believe that this is exactly what God wants from us. I believe He wants us to step out of our comfort zone, knowing that He will always be there to catch us. That brings us to the verse for the day, which is from Joshua 1:8-9,
Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
The risks we’re talking about are not like skydiving or running with the bulls. We’re talking about risks that God puts on our hearts. Just like I loved watching my kids take a risk launching themselves off the counter, He loves watching us take a risk so he can catch us.
So how do we know if God is leading us to take a risk? Here are a few examples that may resonate with you:
- You feel called to start something new or make a major change in your life
- You feel called to open your heart to someone new or to take an existing relationship to the next level
- You feel called to donate more of your time or money but feel uneasy about making that commitment
- You come across what seems like a great opportunity but are hesitant to act for some reason
One of the most important takeaways I picked up when preparing this lesson is that, in every scenario where God is calling us to take a risk, we must take the first step. So, what keeps us from taking that step? I can think of two primary reasons – 1) fear and 2) complacency/comfort. But, if God is truly calling you to take a risk, the great news is that He has an answer for both. If it’s fear that’s stopping you, this can be completely offset by faith (the knowledge that God will “catch” you). And if complacency is the issue, you can rest assured that the more you are willing to leave your comfort zone, the greater the blessings He will share with you.
Questions:
- Do you agree that we are required to take a risk before God will jump into action and act on our behalf? If so, why does He make us act first?
- If you are comfortable sharing, are there any risks you feel God is calling you to take?
- Do you agree that fear and complacency are the two main reasons we hesitate to take risks? Why or why not?
- If we never took a risk, what are some blessings we might miss out on?
- If you were advising someone on taking risks, would you recommend just jumping right in or are there some other steps that might create a better outcome?
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