Taking risks that require great faith is scary. On the one hand, I want to be the one who dares to trust in God. On the other hand I don’t want to be stupid. I want to be sensible and use the brain God has given me to take thoughtful calculated decisions, and not just rush into things.
Often I am more prone to the down-to-earth approach. Maybe too much so. I seldom take large risks or step outside of my comfort zone. It scares me. Luckily, my wife balances me out on that. We need to have faith. We need to dare to plunge into the unknown sometimes and just trust the Lord that he will provide and find a way.
A few days ago, Jerrad Lopes of the Dad Tired ministry published a teaching on four different questions that you can ask yourself if you feel far from God. One of them was about daring to do scary things and not be in a bored stalemate position. This is what he said:
Are you currently stepping outside your comfort zone or taking risks that require great faith? Maybe it’s not that God is far, as much as it is you’re just bored. Remember, God has called you to more. There is a reason God constantly says “fear not” in the Bible; because he is always calling his people to scary things. Begin to pray and ask God what he would want you to step into that would require great faith.
These words came to me just as me and my wife are in the middle of planning a huge transition in our life. It’s an amazing initiative, and we are looking forward to it, but will also be financially costly for a foreseeable future. We are taking a huge step of faith, getting out of our comfort zone, and we do it in faith that God will provide. I can’t say much more at the moment, as it isn’t final yet.
I still want to be sensible and responsible, and this means that I might need to cut down on my hobby projects that take time but don’t pay, such as writing this blog, working on my novel, or writing more short stories. I will never quit that altogether, but I might reduce the output.
Unless…
I become another online beggar on Patreon.
I know, right? This long elaborate blog post just to “beg for money.” But no, hear me out. This is extremely uncomfortable for me. I am again taking a huge step out of my comfort zone. I am asking the internet to chip in a few dollars a month to keep me going. To tell me that there is value in the posts I do and the stories I write. If you can’t, that’s fine, I’m just glad you’re reading my stuff. In that case I only ask for prayers.
If you can afford it, I ask that you turn to God in prayer and ask him if my endeavor is something that you should be supporting. If yes, amazing. Go to my Patreon page and pick a monthly sum. If not, that’s great too. God has more important things for you to support. Go do that.
How about you? Is God calling you to take a step in faith? To go into unchartered territory and leave your comfort zone? Pray over it, and dare to take that risk, in faith. God will provide.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”
Matthew 6:33 NIV
This blog was published originally on Tuvia’s blog and reposted with permission.