So, what kind of faith do you have? What kind is it if it doesn’t stretch you?
One of my favorite activities working with at-risk teens was to take them rappelling – descending cliffs with a rope. In preparation, I’d bring my rope to our meetings and pass it around. The kids would tug on it, read the tag that said it was “tested to 10,000 pounds shock strength", and even hang from it. I’d ask if they believed it’d hold them, if they had faith in it. They always said “Yes.”
Later, on our campout, in the shadow of the 200’ cliffs, I’d ask how they felt about the rope now that they could see the challenge first hand. Most of them would brag that they “weren’t afraid of nuthin’” and that they’d trust the rope… but was that a bit of hesitation I heard?
Later, at the top of the cliffs, the first teen would be strapped into the harness and clip into the rope. I’d back them up to the cliff on wobbly legs and then ask: “Do you trust the rope?” Half the time I’d get a shaky “yes”, the other responses would range from tears, to screams, to paralysis.
Eventually, all of them were coaxed over the edge of the cliff on their first rappel. Once they were six feet or so down the face of the precipice I’d stop them, lean over the edge and ask: “Do you trust the rope now?” Almost always, the response was a grin, and a knowing, “Yeah, I do. I get it now!”
That night at the fire, we’d talk about trusting in God, having faith in him. By the time of the trip, most of the kids would have heard about “accepting Christ” and “believing in Christ” several times in their weekly meetings. But now, when I would tell them that God wanted them to trust him, like they trusted the rope today, you could see the light come on in their eyes. They got it.
How about you? Is that the kind of trust you have in God?
When faced with a challenge, do you jump right in with because you aren’t afraid of “nuthin?” Some find it easy to face tests relying on their own power. They’re “wired” to take risks; it’s natural to just jump in. When they rise to a challenge, they don’t do it out of faith, but out of temperament.
Or do you find a way to hang back and watch - to walk away from a challenge? Do you reason that it “isn’t the right time in my life”, or “I don’t feel a peace about it.” But, maybe that’s just because the challenge is just too intimidating.
Or, coming face to face with a challenge from God, do you trust Him, strap in and go for it, wobbly legs and all? The response of the faithful is to trust that God has led them to the cliff, to check and make sure their gear is in order, then step over the edge.
Those that take “faith” risks, step out in a trust that lets God get them through the challenge. Faith is tested, not just resolve. Faith grows, not pride. Fear is overcome and we learn to trust God even more.
A life walking in faith means living in the expectancy of God’s presence; aware of his control of our world, his leading in our lives, and his provision for all our needs. A living faith should stretch us beyond our comfort zone, should move us into action and profoundly change us.
If it isn’t, maybe we are standing too far from the edge.
