Monday, June 26, 2023
My two youngest children have begun to understand what I do professionally. The littlest one, Lady J, asked me why I became a writer. … “Because it’s what I was meant to do.”
My response seemed simple then, but getting to the answer was a personal journey during which I had to learn how to become uncomfortable.
Over the weekend, we heard the song “Ants Marching” by Dave Matthews Band. The song describes a daily routine which many can relate to. We either all know what it’s like to wake up, go to work, and come home—day-after-day, year-after-year—or we’ve heard the groans from those who have experienced the monotonous routine for decades. Dave sings, “The week ends, the week begins. We take these chances. Place them in a box until a quieter time. Lights down, you up and die.”
It’s a cycle that makes us comfortable at work and in our relationships, but it doesn’t provide meaningful moments. We get stuck in life because we don’t learn to take risks. Maybe it’s due to the fear of letting your family down or failing, but as Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Perhaps an even better reason for jumping out of the backseat—we never know how little time we have.
Psalm 90:12
Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.
We often need more awareness of how short life is, especially in our youth. Too much time is wasted living without breathing, not understanding there is life beyond this place. We have good intentions, discuss aspirations, or think about the person we want to be with, but we don’t move past talking or thinking. God places someone in our hearts, but we don’t check on them or invite them to church. Perhaps you’ve received an invitation to start or continue your spiritual journey, but your comfort trumps taking a risk.
Bottom Line: A FULFILLING LIFE will require PURPOSEFUL RISKS.
Not everyone thinks of risks as purposeful. Fear often leads us to take everything with the potential for growth and place it in a box to avoid the possible discomfort.
I closed the box on chances for years—relationships, prayers, opportunities, etc. Lucky for me, my opportunities didn’t necessarily go away. They turned into what I needed once I was ready to open the box. And thankfully, God stayed with me during the uncomfortable moments.
What’s in your box?
Questions:
Where has comfort stopped you from growing? How have you witnessed purposeful risks pay off for you and others?
Next Steps:
Change your routine by starting the day in prayer or by reading a devotional. Attend a weekend service or invite someone to join you. Grow spiritually by joining a Group.
Prayer:
Dear God, we are all blessed to be on this journey. I pray that everyone takes the chance to grow into who they are meant to be. Help me find the courage to share your truth with new people. Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Ecclesiastes 9:17
“Better to hear the quiet words of a wise person than the shouts of a foolish king.”