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Are you a thrill-seeker? The type of person who loves the extreme? Or are you more of a play-it-safe kind of person? There’s probably a spectrum between those two, and maybe we all fall a bit more in the middle, but I know I definitely lean more toward the familiar and comfortable range.
Climbing a mountain, riding the most extreme roller coaster, eating the spiciest food on the Scoville Scale – those don’t really draw me in. Even simply trying something new can trigger a sense of anxiety deep inside. But what about the times we feel that nudge to do something “scary?” The times we feel like we might be called to move into some sort of transition, despite the nerves, the concern, the uncertainty?
We recently traveled to visit family across the country, and my 8-year-old had plenty of opportunities to try new things. He ran head first into the waves of the Pacific Ocean. He worked up his courage to ride a log flume. He took a hike through the Redwoods. He met new people and tried new foods. And while these things may seem small, I could feel God working on my own heart as I watched Gus “be brave.”
When we seek a sense of calm or peace in our circumstances or in the controlled environment we’ve created for ourselves, it may feel like the more comfortable option. But the truth is, we’re not really the ones in control.
I’m still nervous about the idea of change, especially when it’s on a bigger scale than a log flume, but I know that obedience to what God’s calling us to leads to far more true and lasting peace than trying on our own. Imagine how terrifying it must have been for Peter, Andrew, James and John to fully leave their careers as fishermen and follow Jesus! It required risk, sacrifice and trust.
The unknown can be scary no matter what. Wisdom and worry can be difficult to distinguish for those of us who tend to make decisions based on worst case scenarios. But if God is calling you to it, He will be in it! He is working for our good. We simply have to trust Him.
Is He calling you to take a (big or small) leap of faith? Because of Jesus, we can leap without fear because every step He tells us to make will turn out for our good.