I wanted to disagree, but couldn’t.
A couple week’s ago, I sat in a chapel on the grounds of a Bible camp tucked into the green hills of far NE Iowa. A pastor read the parable of the talents and talked to us about risk, about refusing to “play it safe” as Christians. He said:
“We’ll never give completely without risk. We’ll never love fully without risk. We will never truly encounter God…without risk.”
And the whole thing made this safety-loving, security-seeking, seatbelt-wearing girl squirm. Like, drop my pen (twice) and almost spill my coffee squirm.
Two weeks later, though, and it’s still poking me. As much as I want to disagree, to find some reason surely God wants us safe and comfortable and wrapped-up-in-a-flannel-blanket cozy…I can’t.
Risk.
Seems the word has gotten a bad rap through the years. Brings to mind images of stupid stock market gambles or skateboarding sans helmet. Tends to prompt a Rachel Lynde-like tongue-clucking. (Get the reference and I count you a kindred spirit.)
But risk-taking isn’t synonymous with recklessness. Nor does it automatically imply foolishness. Actually, the more I’ve pondered this, the more convinced I am that in the end, risk—the kind the pastor talked about, the kind a Christian can’t ignore once we understand what’s at stake—it’s all about these three things:
Passion: When Christ, His love and grace, are our passion, risk is a given…but it’s a risk we’ll crave when passion tugs at our hearts and claims our energy. Only the truly passionate are willing to risk the unknown, possibly being misunderstood, alienation, hurt, offense, inconvenience, even safety to pursue and share what compels them.
Purpose: Risk without purpose is pointless. But risk, propelled by Christ-inspired purpose, gives our lives hard core meaning and direction. And it’s so much more than a temporal purpose—a career, a possession, a goal—it’s eternal.
Trust: More than anything, to a Christian, risk is about trust. Trust in God’s plan for our lives, His faithfulness, His unconditional, unbreakable love. Trust that God is bigger than whatever failure, regret or pain we might end up with on the other side of risk.
I’m reminded of this quote from Francis Chan’s Crazy Love, which I can’t recommend enough:
“God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come through.”
Whoa.
It’s easy enough, though, to write about risk (except for the fact that it’s morning and my coffee hasn’t quite kicked in). It’s something else entirely to ask myself—ourselves—if there’s a risk Christ is calling us to. It could be anything:
- Reaching out to a neighbor
- Sharing Christ with a coworker
- Following a dream (writing, singing, climbing a mountain)
- Going on a missions trip
- Giving more financially
- Volunteering
- Reconciling
- Pursuing a relationship
- Applying for a new job
- Being vulnerable
- Just plain telling the truth
I could keep going, but really, we have to determine for ourselves what risk God is waiting for us to take. Probably it’s something right in front of us. But we won’t see it if we’re sleepily cushioned in complacency, obsessed only with our own safety, convenience and comfort.
That’s where it has to start, doesn’t it: with a refusal to tolerate complacency. A refusal to cling to the “balance beam.” A refusal to play it safe.
God never promised us safe.
But He did promise life. The rich, abundant, vibrant kind…if we’re willing to walk into it, through it, possibly—no, most likely—without seeing too many steps into the future.
Because here’s the thing: I don’t think risk is even always necessarily about the risk itself…but about who we become in the process. With each step of risk-taking faith, we move closer to being who we’re meant to be and fulfilling our role in a God-story oh-so-much bigger than ourselves.
And that’s life at its most abundant.
~Melissa
Questions to think about: So today’s post is heavier than usual, but that’s okay, right? It has me thinking anyway, and hopefully you too. Are there risks God might be asking you to take? If so, how do you see passion, purpose and trust playing into your own situation? Are you a risk-taker by nature or (like me) does it take some nurturing?
Comments 2
“I don’t think risk is even always necessarily about the risk itself…but about who we become in the process.”
I like this. I will probably quote it. I also think it’s very much about trusting God so he can make you into the person He sees you as already.
When God asks me to do things that seem too big, like the time He nudged me to take over women’s ministry, I felt sick to my stomach. For days. I tried to ignore it, talk myself out of it, because it was a risk. What if I fail? What if those women hate me? (I’m sure some did as I made them play Chubby bunnies at a women’s night. Have you seen senior women shoving marshmallows in their mouth to win a Beth Moore book? They’ll do anything. I digress) My point is, it’s only when you obey and jump in all the way in that you feel those arms of trust wrap around you and fell completely SAFE! 🙂
I know just what you mean about filling sick to your stomach at the thought of following a nudge from God. But you’re so right…we don’t know the fullness of security in Christ until we take a risk and then find ourselves wrapped in His arms!
Oh my goodness, the chubby bunny game! I’ve only ever seen kids play it…but I can totally imagine the hilarity jumping a couple notches if it’s women playing!