Step Out in Faith

One of the big keys to strategically invest your life is, frankly, where the rubber hits the road. Connecting to the Source, knowing what I have been given, and taking on the responsibility will do little for any of us until they are energized by this truth: in order to move forward in life, I must be willing to step out in faith.

Think about it like this: nothing worth accomplishing ever happens unless someone decides to take a risk. Until I am willing to attempt something that is larger than I am – something that is beyond what I think are my normal limits, what I can see and touch and feel – then I might as well just play it safe. And if I’m playing it safe all the time, then I’ve not only settled for mediocrity , but I’ve also put myself in position to be displeasing to God.

The Bible says it like this: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God.” If all I do is play it safe, then I never need to exercise my faith. And if I never step out in faith, trusting in the “assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen,” then I miss out on both the opportunity to please God, as well as the adventure of watching something great happen right before my eyes.

Too often, I run into people who think that stepping out in faith is only for the hyper-religious types, or those who are born with a big vision of life, and lots of natural talent to go along with that big vision. But nothing could be further from the truth. The fact of the matter is, most of the great accomplishments of the last 100 years have been achieved by plain, ordinary people – people just like you and me. People who refused to allow their limitations to keep them from achieving what they dreamed about, what they hoped for. People who exercised their faith and took risks.

Stop and think about it. One of the most successful restaurant chains in America? Founded by an ordinary guy in Atlanta with a vision to “give to others without any expectation of return.” One of the largest transportation companies in the United States, a firm with over $2 billion in annual revenues? Started by a junior high dropout who was raised in rural Arkansas during the Great Depression. The greatest evangelist of all time, the man who has preached to more people face-to-face than anyone in history? Just a former youth worker who was willing to step out in faith.

Truett Cathy, J.B. Hunt and Billy Graham – and the thousands like them who have achieved extraordinary accomplishments – are just ordinary people who took a risk and stepped out in faith.

Sitting around on the sidelines, thinking that you could never do what you’ve dreamed about doing, will never get you anywhere. To invest your life strategically means that you’re willing to get in the game and take a risk – that you’re willing to step out in faith. I’d much rather attempt to do something great, and fail, then attempt to do nothing and succeed.

You might fail. But then again–you also might succeed.