How to Stay Standing: 3 Practices for Building a Faith That LastsSample

Risk Makes Rock

The 3 practices we’ve explored this week are actually a cycle. Come. Hear. Practice.

As you do these 3 things in succession over and over again, you will be living out the definition of Biblical faith. It will always lead you to take risks. Today’s reading makes it clear that when Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, they had to risk leaving what they had and what they knew. They risked finding out what was inside this new life with Jesus.

For way too long I didn’t understand that following Jesus was always going to lead me to the next risk. Risk is an essential part of developing a trust in God that you can stand on—especially when life gets hard. These are the moments you most want to know that God is good and real and with you, but they can also be the hardest times to trust Him if you have no history together. Just like we need history with our friends and family to build trust, the same goes with God.

Risk isn’t a personality trait; it’s a skill you can learn, strengthen, and grow. And you must. Risks are the counterintuitive way to the security and certainty in God that you want. He wants you to be convinced He has your back! But only risk will convince you of that in a personal way. The verses today from 1 Peter confirm it is possible to know, love and trust an invisible God. It’s in the midst of taking risks on Him that you form a real relationship of love. You get to know Jesus and become convinced of His goodness and grace. This is what you can stand on no matter what comes: Jesus Himself.

So, this week, start with raw honesty, hear His Word, and then practice actually DOING what it says even in small, messy, childlike experiments. As you do these things, expect to face a risk. When you see it, take it! This is the way towards Jesus. Even if it doesn’t turn out like you thought, you will experience Him in ways that will change you. New hope and strength will begin to take root in your life. When you build your faith and life on the Rock, you will stay standing.