Hearing that God PROMISES to be with us in our risk-taking is confusing, if not crazy. But taking risks in this context has nothing to do with our man-made calculations on what to do or not do in life. Nothing to do with risky schemes and maneuvers. Here’s the right context:
The risk that God promises to help us with is forging through UNCERTAINTY. God PROMISES to get us through the uncertain stretches of road in our life that REQUIRE us to RISK, by trusting him.
The kind of risk God promises to help us navigate is deliberate and purposeful, but never careless or incautious. It must be grounded in sturdy faith. It must subordinate fear. And it must pivot off who God made us to be, not our self-directed and selfish version of self.
Here’s how I look at taking risk through uncertainty—PARACHUTING.
Picture yourself at the open door of a Cessna 212 Jumper getting ready to hurl yourself into a wild blue yonder punctuated by wispy white clouds. Now let go of the guide rope as the captain says “GO”! Then feel yourself tumbling in the abyss KNOWING that the chute was expertly packed and will open and drop you into the ground’s open arms…smoothly and without incident.
THAT is how I want to navigate my faith walk. Confident in my risk through uncertainty because “God packed my chute,” but never with a cavalier attitude that relies on ME. Here’s how someone from our global online tribe describes putting too much confidence in calling our own shots:
Calling on our own power, guile and self-will means we have rejected God. It is a sign that we have stopped surrendering to HIS ways, which are not our ways, and HIS thoughts, which are not our thoughts. When that happens, the Lord waits patiently until our ego-based and selfish tantrum is over, and then says: “My peace I give to you…” (John 14:27).
That’s clear evidence that our protection in this life does not coming from AVOIDING TRAVAIL. It is in taking the risk of trusting God through life’s uncertainty.
I ask God to help me understand that the kind of risk he promises to help me navigate demands that I push through UNCERTAINTY in order to allow his “rich harvest” to become manifest as described in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are you taking any spiritual RISKS when it comes to the UNCERTAINTY in your life?
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
