Leap of Faith

I've commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the LORD your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.

– Joshua 1:9

Are you the type who shies away from scary or dangerous situations? Or are you more of a thrill-seeker who loves excitement and adventure? 

If you're willing to take a leap of faith, consider skydiving, which happens to be a surprisingly safe sport. The United States Parachute Association reports that in 2023, there were just 10 civilian fatalities out of the estimated 3.65 million skydiving jumps made by its members in the U.S. Then there’s BASE jumping, which stands for Bridge, Antenna, Span, and Earth. Considered by many the world’s most dangerous sport, BASE jumping involves parachuting from tall structures — like buildings, cliffs and towers — at heights lower than 1,000 feet.

It’s probably hard for most people to relate to such fear-inducing daredevil activities. But every day, Christ-followers like you and me face intimidating challenges. And they’re obstacles that we have no hope of conquering on our own. Poverty, hunger, crime, and disease are just a few examples. Since we’re to serve as God’s hands and feet on earth, is it any surprise that Satan uses fear as his primary weapon against us? It’s the devil who plants the seeds of doubt that cause us to ask ourselves, “What if ...” That’s the two-word question that leads many to seek the safety found in procrastination and delay.

Our Creator, however, calls on Christ-followers to be bold and courageous. But what does courage really mean? First, it’s not the absence of fear. Instead, it’s more about moving forward despite fear. Our God stands with his people. And we can be encouraged by the everyday people he’s enabled to accomplish extraordinary things against overwhelming odds. We read in the Scriptures that David — an obscure shepherd boy — killed the fierce giant Goliath with a single, well-aimed stone from a slingshot. This is the same shepherd boy who eventually became the King of Israel and the one God called “a man after My own heart.” Likewise, the apostle Peter quite literally dove into the deep end when he accepted Jesus’ call to walk on water. Although he would one day deny even knowing Jesus when the going got tough, Peter later became a bold preacher who led many to faith in Christ. Two books of the New Testament also bear his name.

“With God with us, who can be against us?” the apostle Paul asks through his Letter to the Romans. And that’s more than a rhetorical question. Christ-followers can take heart that our Creator is preparing us now for what will be required of us later. And whatever we fear in life, we can rest assured that we don’t face it alone. In fact, it’s when we’re in God’s presence that we’re the most protected. We just need to come to our Father in prayer, listen for his response and guidance, and then take a leap of faith. That’s how we’ll find the boldness and courage to make a world of difference … one person at a time.