Go First and Go Scared

There are times in our lives that we come to a crossroads as we transition through life's seasons. Sometimes it feels more like staring at your feet on the edge of a very tall cliff, fear gripping your heart, facing the unknown. Everything in you screams "take the next step" except for that nagging whisper in the back of your mind asking "but what if?"

We are all familiar with the voice of fear.

Those moments when we take a step of faith into the unknown can be, and often are, defining moments. Pivotal places where an altar was resurrected in our hearts as we laid down our doubts and fears. Altars that mark surrender and growth in our lives.

Looking back over my life I can recall several times I had a strong desire, a calling, to press into something more. Backpacking was one. I started backpacking with my father in 2012. Neither of us had much of an idea about what we were doing. We went anyway.

I began longing to go backpacking more, but always waiting for someone I knew to be available to go along with me kept from from doing so. So I joined a group of strangers on a "Meet Up" for an overnight trip in the woods and fell in love with adventuring with new friends.

Wilderness ministry entered my life in this way. I had discovered it online, an organization in Wyoming called SROM (Solid Rock Outdoor Ministry) who was leading 7 - 40 day backpacking trips in an area of the US I had never experienced before. Leading up to that trip was the thrill of my hopeful expectation mixed with fear of the unknown.

Upon returning from that trip the Lord gently called me out deeper to begin Arkansas Wilderness Ministry. That was another moment of fear and anticipation. But looking back over my life I see now that God often calls us to unknown places for His glory and purposes.

If you're a cautious person, like myself, you might tend to let others go first and watch and see what happens. Let someone else take the lead and the fall if things go wrong. There are plenty of times when that is the wise thing to do. But sometimes YOU are the one being called to take the first step.

If something is on your heart and you've talked to others but they aren't ready to jump on board yet I say go first and go scared. Draw strength from the Lord and remember that we walk by faith and not by sight.

Seek first the kingdom and all will be added.

The Lord will use your steps of faith to draw others to Himself. I have seen it more times than I can count. Once you take that step of faith, He meets you there and before you know it when you look around you'll find people right there alongside of you. Because your step of faith gave them courage. Your act of obedience, in the face of fear, inspired those who were watching you.

People are always looking for someone to follow. My father used to say "be a leader, not a follower."

Be brave my friends. Because bravery is contagious.