The Crime of Living Cautiously

From the beginning of this adventure that God has called me to in Spain, I have had people tell me how much of an inspiration I am, how brave I am, how my husband would be proud of me and assorted other things to that effect. Normally, I tell people that I'm not really brave, I'm just doing what I think God has called me to do. And I've had doubts about even that from time to time. Most of the time I am convinced that I am here because this is where God wants me right now. But there are moments when I wonder if I've made it all up. Not very many, but there are some.

Because of other books I have purchased from Amazon.com, this popped up on my recommended list one day. The title was too compelling for me to pass it up. The inside of the book jacket says "Luci Shaw has learned to act with discernment in regard to motivation and calling. She has discovered a path of deep joy and fulfillment by risking the unknown in partnership with God."

I'll share with you a couple of my favorite excerpts from the book and encourage you to get a copy and read it for yourself.

"If I fear failure and the possibility of looking foolish, I cut myself off from reward. Paul wouldn't have pressed "toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil 3:14) if he'd been afraid of looking foolish. But if God is calling me into his service, I will be acting under his authority. My obedience to him makes him responsible for my destiny."

"The life we hoard, clutch, protect, safeguard out of fear or timidity ends up being of little use to us or anyone else, least of all to God and his kingdom. The kind of life Jesus lived would appear to be foolishness to any uninformed onlooker (he had no money, no home, no car, no organizational support). His close friends proved unreliable (with the exception of a few women), and his death was a scandal, a scandal that turned the world around forever.

The cliff edge of our anxiety about the future may indicate that God is calling us to a new and different level of faith. When we walk, praying for guidance, to the edge of all the light we have and breathlessly take that first step into the foggy mystery of the unknown, we must believe that one of two things will happen: either God will provide us with something rock-solid to land on and stand on, or he will teach us how to fly."

What is it that you think God might be asking you to do? Don't cast it aside because it feels too risky or you're afraid your friends and family will think you're crazy or because you're simply afraid. Believe that the God who loves you, more than you know, will go with you into the unknown.