The Risk of Hanging On
Large companies have people whose sole job is to analyze risk. Before the company sets on out a new venture these folks determine what might have to be given up in exchange for what might be gained. Experiencing God works differently. We can’t analyze what the gains are because there’s really no way to know. All we can see are the risks. As our relationship with God grows more intimate we can begin to see that He knows BOTH. God can see the gains in the risks we take for Him. What follows is trust; and as trust grows, fear subsides.
Ultimately, what we are risking is our own interest. Moses is a perfect example. He fled Egypt to escape punishment for killing a man. He found a new home, a new family, and was living a peaceful life as a shepherd. Until he noticed a bush that was on fire; And noticed that the bush wasn’t being consumed by that fire; And until went in for a closer look and started hearing a voice coming from the bush. When we read this passage we hear that voice telling him to go be a prophet and a hero to an oppressed people. But all Moses is hearing is that he has to leave behind the security of a roof over his head and food on the table, go back to Egypt, risk death, live a public life in which his every move is scrutinized, miss his kids growing up, miss more than one date night with his wife, etc, etc. Moses could see none of the gains.
Letting Go
Letting go is a process. We usually let go a little at a time. But sometimes God asks us to make a move that requires a chunk of letting go right from the start. The first thing we need to do is identify just what our fears are. If we can’t put our finger on we have simply to pray and ask God to point them out. Trust me, He will. Once we’ve done that we simply need to pray for strength and peace, and surrender those fears to God and let Him handle them. It’s this moment that fear and faith will be coexisting in our heart, each fighting for supremacy. At some point in this process we must step out in faith, or fear will paralyze us and will win out.
My wife and I are trying to teach our daughter to swim. The problem is she doesn’t want to let go – of the side of the pool. Once we get her convinced to do that, she clings to me and won’t let go of me. No matter how hard I try, and how lovingly I reassure her, she hasn’t come to that place of trusting that she can let go of me, but I will not let go of her. That I am her father and would not let anything happen to her. That she is safe with me. We are often the same way with God.
Our Name is Not at Stake
When struggling with fear and trying to reconcile the risks God is asking us to take, with having faith in Him to carry us to faiths reward, we would do well to remember His words to us in Isaiah 41:10: “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” (NLT; emphasis mine).
God has, in this verse, made a promise to us. He has given us his solemn word, and He is not a man that he should lie. His very name and reputation are on the line should he not do for us what He has promised. The more we put aside our fears and trust in God, the more we’ll find that we enjoy our new lives, lives dedicated to His will, than we could ever have enjoyed our old ones. God dwells in that unknown place that he is asking us to walk into and He will not let us fall into some endless chasm when we step off of, and away from, the security of our spiritual front porch.
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