Taking Risks
I would have jumped out of a plane at the age of eighteen if I had had enough money to do so. I had the opportunity, just not the cash flow. I have always been one who has leaned towards adrenaline-driven risks. I have jumped from cliffs, roped through jungles, swam with sea creatures, and sacrificed my body during sporting events where it was completely unnecessary to do so. Some would label my behavior as risky, dangerous, deranged. Honestly, I can understand their argument but when I look back at the memories made, the joy found, and the fun had, I stand by my risky choices.
I didn’t grow up in a home where risks were displayed or encouraged much. As a mother myself now, I can understand why a parent would not overly applaud risky behavior from an already brave child. Sometimes, as parents, we have to help guide the daredevil child to solid ground to protect both physical wellbeing and financial stability of not having to pay the ER bills. Like anything in life though, we can swing the pendulum too far and find ourselves too safe, too protected, too unable to decide that sometimes there is merit in risk-taking.
Risk requires that we step out into something often unliked: the unknown. We are unwilling to take risks because we do not have the finalized script in front of us. There is no guarantee that our risk will develop into success. There is no known time of arrival, no surety of a payoff, no clear path. But, according to Ronald Heifetz, founder of the Center for Public Leadership, there is another reason that people tend to avoid risk. "Peoples' choices to take or refrain from risk are over-determined by their culture." Too many of us resist risk because we haven’t been encouraged to venture out or to take a chance. We have been warned against risk and possibly even encouraged to embrace fear. Our culture, our family, our church, our minds have maybe spoken too cautiously.
I am not suggesting that you jump from a plane. At this stage in my life, jumping from a plane would be foolish. Other dangerous perils are not what I am suggesting either. Instead, here is the question I would like to pose: When you are presented with an opportunity to take a chance at something new, what do you do?
Ignore the choice, pretend as though the option doesn’t even exist.
Create lists of excuses as to why this would never work.
Become so paralyzed with fear, rooted in a refusal to do anything different.
Foolishly jump into anything new without thought, preparation, or prayer.
I’d love to encourage you to be the person not represented on this list. It will take effort, but I hope that you will learn to embrace risk as an option to practice faith in action. When we are faced with decisions, options of risk, it is best for us as Christ followers to view the situation through the lens of faith.
Has God provided opportunities of risk for you recently? When He has called you out of something comfortable, have you cowered? When He has called you forward, have you faltered? When He has presented a new canvas, have you denied His artistic choice?
You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved. (Hebrews 10:36-39 NIV)
The author of Hebrews reminds us as Christ followers to persevere, to continue to say “Yes” to God’s requests. There is a warning to not shrink back, to not avoid the righteous risk of sacrificing our comforts for His Kingdom work. Because of the risks of many who came before us we have the Word of God in written form and have the privilege of reading and re-reading the divine promises of our Savior. We also have the responsibility to live our faith in action, in deeds that may seem risky. However, the risks you take for the Kingdom are always worth more than we can measure and they are never forgotten by the One who called you to action. So, may we embrace Hebrews 10:35, “Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.”
This week, may I spur you towards love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24) and encourage you to reject fear and to welcome opportunities to take chances. It is possible that you have for too long been surrounded by a culture of stagnant faith. You have maybe never viewed risks as a holy venture. And while not all risks are righteous, there is a race you have been called to run on behalf of the Kingdom and it requires you to venture out and act in a manner that may not come automatically. Undoubtedly, you will have to request the help of the very One who is calling you to something unfamiliar.
Ask God to help you replace complacency with courage. Replace anxiety for assurance. Replace fear with fortitude. This week, ask God where you can illustrate faith in action. Seek Him, listen to Him, pray about the steps you need to take, and bravely step out with the partnership of the Holy Spirit.
Take the risk of serving others. Take the risk of volunteering your time. Take the risk of pulling your car over to help someone stranded on the road. Take the risk of going back to school, chasing a dream, going for the promotion. Take the risk of writing an extra check, giving a larger tip, investing in someone. Take the risk of sharing the Gospel. Take the risk where you stand up for what is right, even if it is unpopular. Take the risk of releasing your children to serve God on the mission field. Take the risk that He has been painting on that canvas, the one where your name is brushed in excellence, the one unfinished until you risk saying “Yes.”
Until next time my friend.
