Nearly five years ago, I co-led a ministry named "Amara Ministries." We had an amazing group of young women who would gather together for a weekend retreat every six weeks. The weeks leading up to the retreats would require homework and reflection as each retreat was themed. One particular weekend the theme was "Fear." For six weeks leading up to the retreat, we discussed fear...what it looks like...what it feels like...and what particular fears we had in our lives at the time. We memorized a Bible verse, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7) and said it over and over and over again. Every girl was required to name her fear. Death, snakes, darkness...nearly every girl shared a fear with at least one of her Amara sisters.
At the time, I was deathly afraid of snakes. I literally couldn't even touch a picture of a snake let alone be near one. Whenever I would walk into a pet store and be near them, I would flip out if someone touched me...yes, it was that bad. Naturally, I knew that facing this fear would be extremely difficult for me. But as the weekend approached, I found myself bound and determined to face this fear. I would tell people that I was going to overcome this fear with the help of the Creator of all things...even the Creator of snakes (why, Lord, why?). As the weekend approached and the opportunity arose to face this fear, I can honestly tell you that I was nearly drenched in sweat. As the other girls were poised and ready to handle the baby snake, I was pacing the sidewalk outside, reapplying deodorant (these girl cannot see me like this!) and secretly hoping that the pet store employees who were so eager to help us overcome these fears would quickly change their minds.
Fat chance.
It was now my turn and as the lady put the small little snake in my hands, I quickly closed my eyes and held my breath. It was AWFUL. I hated it. I quickly asked her to 'get it out of my hand.' I was sweating profusely. I didn't want to do this...but I knew I needed to. I knew that I needed to take this risk because this could lead to freedom from an often paralyzing fear.
I held the baby snake and watched as an even larger snake was taken from the cage. Eventually I held this larger snake...and then had one wrapped around my shoulder (it actually did feel like a backpack...just like the lady said) and by the end of our time there, I was helping my Amara sisters hold up a HUGE snake said to weigh over 50 pounds!!!
This was powerful for me and it was powerful to the other girls, as well. We needed the opportunity to work our way up in order to face the fears. We needed to be risk takers....we needed to and we did.
In my life, I am surrounded by risk takers.
I know a man who at the age of 19 gave up his career in racing as a professional career was nipping at his heels to seek God in all areas of his life. He knew it would be difficult to face his supporters, his family, and his sponsors. He took that risk.
I know a couple whose marriage was near death and they stood it out, sought the Lord, and are now able to praise the Lord for His goodness. They took that risk.
I know a girl who is struggling with her sexual identity. She is adamant about figuring out who she is in the midst of this... She is taking that risk.
I know a girl who is really struggling to figure out who God is. Instead of giving up and throwing in the towel, she is head to head with God nearly every day...hashing things out...pushing through the wall....and believing that break through will happen any day now. She is taking that risk.
I know a man who was anxious about jumping out of an airplane and he did it. He took that risk.
I know a girl who, after an attempt to share her life with others overseas, found herself unable to go. Instead of quitting, she sought God, ground her heels in and has recently moved out of state to pursue serving God in a different way. She is taking that risk.
I know a girl who lost her Husband to another woman and held on tight to all she had. Although her marriage has been dissolved despite her pleas to God, she still seeks Him, trusts Him with her whole heart, and is continually seeking His will in her life. She is taking that risk.
I know a man who after being laid off from his amazing job as President of a youth ministry organization, has been honest about his raw emotions, sought the Lord, and chosen to use his creativity in ways he never would have been able to before. He is taking that risk.
I know a woman that despite the disapproval of her family, has clung to her Husband, continued to seek the face of God, and grown as an individual, wife, and mother. She is taking that risk.
I know a woman who left her comforts, friends, and family for a summer to pursue God. She met Him. She took that risk.
I know a man who, despite the fact that he and his former wife did not have children, pours his life into inner city children and cares for them as if they are his own. He takes that risk.
I know of a man who at the age of 28 followed his heart and with a few others, began a church in Michigan. God has used him to speak into the lives of millions. Including me. He took that risk.
I know a woman who is pursuing wholeness in Christ in all areas of her life and recently returned from a Holy Yoga conference adamant about helping to lead others on a spiritual, emotional, and physical journey with Christ as the center. She is taking that risk.
We all have opportunities to take risks. Sometimes we sit on the wayside and just expect to watch others do it. Sometimes we live vicariously through the risk-taking of others.
Amelia Earhart said it best: "There's more to life than being a passenger." It's true. There IS more to life. We can't just sit back and let life pass us by. God has so much to teach us, reveal to us, give to us, take away from us, and do to us. We have to begin to take risks or we may never experience the fullness of what He has for us.
Maybe it's a snake for you. Maybe it's a career. Maybe it's just saying "hi" to that lady who shares different beliefs than you. Maybe it's about going to see a counselor. Maybe it's about confronting your Mom. Whatever it is...do it. Take the risk. Do it. Take the risk. Do it.
Do it.
Take the risk.
Seriously, do it.
