Exhilarating Fear

I've never been the extreme sports type. Jumping out of airplanes or riding roller coasters has never been my thing either. But there's been a few things in my life that have given me that same type of adrenaline rush - fear mixed with excitement, the possibilities vs the POSSIBILITIES.

I remember one night in particular. It was around midnight and I was feeling very scared. I said, "God I can't do this! I can't possibly leave my safe and quiet life and venture out into the unknown. I'm too scared!" A few hours later found me on a plane, heading for a year of mission service, never guessing just how drastically my life was about to change. I'm so grateful He didn't let me chicken out! Exhilarating fear! It pushes us to places we ordinarily wouldn't have gone. It grows us and challenges us, if we let it. 

Another word for this exhilarating fear is "faith". Faith through the unknown, faith that we are known, faith in the POSSIBILITIES that exist when we say yes to friendship with Jesus.

Faith is diving off the cliff, stepping out of the boat, walking on the water, believing that Jesus is there to catch you. It's showing up, being all in, choosing to trust, day by day. It can also be waiting patiently while everyone else is busy doing something. Faith is that hope that God will show up, that He is enough, that I am enough in Him.

That terrifying feeling when you don't know what to do. That electrifying feeling when you realize that it really doesn't matter after all (He's got it all under control). I heard someone say once (can't remember who), that when you have nothing left but Jesus, you will find that He is more than enough.

"When You don’t move the mountains I’m needing You to move

When You don’t part the waters I wish I could walk through

When You don’t give the answers as I cry out to You

I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You"

(From "Trust in You", Lauren Daigle)