Should I Take the Risk?

Stop being afraid of what could go wrong,

and start being excited of what could go right.

~Tony Robbins

Scripture:

Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous!  Do

not be terrified or intimidated, for the Lord your God is with

you wherever you go.

~Joshua 1:9

Perspective:

Risk is defined as the intentional interaction with uncertainty.

Risk is the courage to take a chance.  Without taking a chance or trying something you do not feel comfortable with initially, a goal cannot be reached; growth happens in our discomfort zone! 

There are different ways we can take risks in life.  There are dangerous risks that involve being a daredevil and risking one’s safety.  Then there are risks that involve stepping out of our comfort zone, stretching our self, and having the courage to take a chance, which is the risk I’ll be focusing on.  If you look back at well-known explorers, inventors, sports figures, and famous people throughout history, you’ll see that without their choice to take a risk and try something they did not feel comfortable with initially, their accomplishment could not have been reached. 

Growth does not happen in our comfort zone, but rather when we are challenged and must struggle with uncertainty, with the unknown, and with discomfort.  Life is like a trapeze act, to improve you must take a risk and let go of the bar you are currently holding on to, hopeful, but uncertain whether or not you will reach the next bar as you fly through the air.  The good news for a trapeze artist, there is a safety net.  To move forward in life, you must take a risk and let go of what you are currently holding on to, maybe even a bit too tightly.  Your good news, God is always with you!

There are risks we take every day that we don’t give a second thought to, such as buying lottery tickets or making choices that satisfy us in the moment but are not good for our health, such as smoking or unhealthy food choices and lack of physical activity…I’m sure most of us have driven around a parking lot searching and waiting for a parking spot close to the building we are going into, it may have even been at the gym!  Then there are calculated risks, those risks we give forethought to and so have an awareness of potential challenges we may face.  These are risks we think through and plan for before deciding to take them.  We make a conscious decision as to whether the rewards are worth the effort and the chance of reaching our goal, or not.  Plan as we may, there is still no guarantee. 

The Growth Mindset would say that risks are more difficult to choose to take if you fail to recognize the value of making mistakes and the learning, and thus correction, that can come from our mistakes.  God is with us in our mistakes; He may not save us from their consequences, but He does use all we have gone through for our ultimate good and for His glory, so He even has a stake in our mistakes.

Faith in and of itself is a risk.  We must have the courage to believe what we cannot see.  We must be obedient to and trust in God and a glorious afterlife while they are still invisible to us, while all the visible worldly treasures tempt us day after day.  Not only do they tempt us, but we watch the majority walking the wide path who have and enjoy those worldly possessions.  It is for this reason that God rewards those who have and keep the faith despite their circumstances.  Faith gives us the capacity and power to see beyond the pain and suffering of this world and to keep our eyes on eternity.  We do not have to have all the answers, but we do have to have faith!  Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever comes to God must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.”    

Jesus was a risk-taker.  He challenged the religious leaders of His time and was at odds with most of them.  He kept company with the most broken people, despite the judgement He received.  After Jesus was crucified and rose, the Apostles took great risks to spread the Gospel; they were willing to be imprisoned and even die to do so.  We are not called to conform to this world, to settle into comfort, or even to be liked by everyone and to offend no one.  God has a unique plan for each of our lives…are you fearlessly pursuing that?  To grow, we need to seek to understand ourselves and our unique gifts and purpose, we need to be willing to take risks, and stand strong for what is right.  We are not called to play it safe but rather to be bold!  Neither Jesus nor the Apostles played it safe, instead they modeled boldness for us.

Christians should have less fear of the unknown than non-believers.  No matter what adversity or trials we face in this world, eternity is secured for those who have faith!  Do not be afraid, in some form, is written repeatedly in the Bible.  Research seems to say it is not actually 365 times, but it is a lot and so its message is significant.  God commands courage, but not because we alone should be brave but because we have God to protect and guide us in all we do, we can have courage through Him.  Throughout the Bible He follows up “fear not” with a reason, a way He is there for us…He is our shield, our comforter, our strength, our rock, our fortress, our deliverer, among many other things.

At times God does command us to be still, to hear from Him as we are only able to do in that quiet stillness.  At other times, God instructs us to go forth in different ways, to trust in Him being with us and in His plan for our future.  In this fast-paced world, it is easy to be distracted by so many different things, however, it is in the stillness, with open hearts, that we can focus on God’s will for our lives.  How do you know if God is calling you to do something or if it is just a random idea you had, sometimes it can feel difficult to tell the difference.  Have you prayed about it?  Does it align with God’s word?  Do you keep thinking about it?  Have you received confirmation over and over in some way?  If your answer to these questions is yes, then it may be time to be bold, to take a risk!

“The biggest risk is not taking any risk.

~Mark Zuckerberg

Life Applications:

>Think about what you would do if fear was not an issue? 

>>Now think about what you are not doing, and potentially missing out on, because of your fears?  Really give thought to WHY you are focused on your fears as opposed to all the good that could come from you stepping out in faith.  Maybe your fears are evidence of your need for strengthened faith in some areas of your life.

>>>Write down the pros and cons of a risk you are considering taking.  It will make your options more concrete, not just different thoughts coming and going in your mind. 

>>>>What is the best and the worst-case scenario?  Now that you have identified the worst-case scenario, you can plan ahead and increase your chance of that NOT happening!