Our Daily Journey: A 30-Day Walk With JesusSample

Leaping From the Enclosure

The African impala is a deerlike creature that can jump to a height of 3 meters (nearly 10 feet) and cover a distance greater than 11 meters (36 feet) in one bound. Yet the impala can be kept in a zoo enclosure with just a 1-meter-high wall. Why? Because it isn’t tall enough to peer over the barrier, and it won’t jump if it can’t see where its feet will land.

That’s like a lot of us—we often won’t take a leap of faith unless we can see where we’ll land. Abraham can show us another way.

Abraham was 75 when God’s call to leap came. He was old and childless, but he was called to found a new land and start a nation (Genesis 11:30, 12:1-8). God gave no details where Abraham was to walk or how he would have a child, saying only, “Go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation” (12:1-2, 17:5).

Leap from the enclosure, Abraham—leap! Abraham leaped. He set out in faith (12:4-6), soon found his land (v.7), later had his son (21:1-5), and became the father of a great nation (Hebrews 11:12). God guided Abraham’s feet, but only after he took the leap of faith.

On three occasions I believe God has led me to leap from my comfortable enclosure. In each case I’ve left a secure job without knowing what lay ahead. Leap from the enclosure, Sheridan—leap! I will guide your feet, but first you must leap.

And in each case God has led me to a place of greater service and impact. I’m not a perfect role model, though. I’ve fretted about money and the future. But I’ve learned this about walking by faith: We’ll rarely know the outcome before we make the leap, and we’ll rarely know the destination before we begin to walk.

Is God calling you to leap? Then leap!

MORE: Read Hebrews 11:1 and consider what real faith requires.

Discover more about trust in God.

NEXT: When did God last call you to take a leap of faith? What is He calling you to trust Him bravely for today?