Faith is Risky Business

This seems to be a theme with me for the last several months. I have been given opportunities to face fears and to take risks with flying, traveling up mountainsides, selling our home with no clear plan, and closing my shop with nothing on the horizon.

Then I read this book, ”Soul Print” by Mark Batterson. And I listened to a sermon “The Establishment of the Spirit” (from fcchudson.com byPastor Timothy Porter)…both confirmed to me I’m right where God wants me to be. 

“Grace calls us into fear.” That was the word from Pastor Tim.

Feeling awkward is evidence that you are doing things that require faith.That was one take-away from Soul Print.

Grace being God’s power available to us, calls us into fear, fear because we know our own weakness to act, then faith is the joining factor from my fear to God’s power. And it’s risky.

Faith is risky business.

As I study the life of David, I have been parked in his words to the giant that had taunted the mighty wimpy soldiers of Israel. They were wimpy only because of where they placed their confidence. In themselves.

David’s bold-confident words, “This day the Lord will hand you over to me and I will strike you down and cut off your head.” Those words, they strike me. I’m imagining a five year old boy saying this to a grown man to get perspective on the risk that David took. Really? How did he say with such confidence these words to an armed, intimidating giant?

It is where he placed his confidence; that confidence coming from where he placed his sights. If I look at myself and my weakness or my giant problem or feat, I shy away from risks. I fail at moving forward in faith. If I look at my God and His power and promises, I have confidence in something Unfailing, Almighty.

I’m seeking to watch my thoughts, and where they land often is on me. No wonder I feel shaky-kneed so often when God says, “go”. And did David have any thoughts of himself while running toward the giant? Did his knees feel weak while running?

Seeking more grace to lift up my eyes and have them stayed on God for courage to take risks. We walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7 There is no pleasing God without faith. Hebrews 11:6  Faith is uncomfortable and awkward because it is risky business.  We who are called to live by faith will have to embrace awkwardness and get used to feelings of fear but never let them stop us from taking risks.

 

With a passion for prayer and God’s Word, Kathy loves to build women up in their faith and encourage them in devotion to the Lord. She is director of Women’s Ministry in her church where she teaches and leads Bible Studies, organizes and hosts women’s events with her team, publishes a newsletter and mentors several women.

Kathy and her husband Dale own a hobby farm in Western Wisconsin where they raised their two children. Kayla (married to Andrew) made them joyful grandparents of baby Bennett last fall. Ethan is entering his sophomore year in college.

Kathy, a former hairstylist, owns and operates a country gift shop on their farm where she is free to tend her many perennial gardens and her two blogs in between shoppers stopping in. Kathy can be found at: Blessed Builder and Bittersweet Farm Gift Shop. You may email her at btrsweetfarm@hotmail.com