Fear of the Unknown
And without faith it is impossible to please God. ––Hebrews 11:6
It’s interesting to think that if we had no fear of the unknown there would never be the need to take risk. If there was no risk there would be no need for faith because we all know without risk there is no need for faith.
The Bible reminds us that, without faith it is impossible to please God. When we take a risk, we’re stretching beyond what we think our limits are in order to reach for a goal. Inevitably, that involves overcoming some sort of fear––fear of the unknown, of physical harm, of failure, of humiliation, even of success. And it involves adventure.
We have all been in non-challenging situations, whether it be a relationship or an activity that really is quite mundane, matter-of-fact and, quite frankly, boring. It is only when we are challenged that things start to heat up and get exciting. The same could be said for living a life of faith. It’s when we overcome our fears and take spiritual risks that we really experience the adventure of Christianity. Jesus said, in effect, that those who risk their whole life for Him will find it, but those who hang onto their life––those who shrink back from risk––will be the losers.
Some of us look for any excuse to open up the throttle, push our bodies past their limits, and live on the edge. That is from God, my brother! Jesus wanted that life for you, and He is making Himself your excuse to live the dream and love the extreme. The difference is that when channeled toward faith and adventures in Jesus, you don’t ruin your liver, break a lot of bones, or blow your savings trying to win the game of “the person who dies with the most toys wins.”
Your energy and willingness to invest your life for Christ is not slipping God’s watchful eye. He’s hoping you’ll cross the line in those areas of your life that will most stretch you to be His man––right now.
What one or two things have you been putting off that you know God is nudging you about? Pick the scariest one, figure out a plan, and go for it. When you risk for God, you cannot lose.
Father, thank You for not giving me the life of a robot—what a boring life that would be; fill me with Your love and energy to step into the deep end and experience the life of faith You would have me live.