By Sandra Turner

Most of us like to feel reasonably safe. But if we shut down our lives to doing only "safe" things, we cut off our potential for growth and accomplishment.

Plus we drain our lives of all excitement. No excitement in our lives makes for the biggest stress of all - boredom. When facing any risk in life, weigh it on a balance scale. What do you stand to gain if you succeed and what do you stand to lose if you fail?

Christians are meant to be risk takers. Really - if you're going to follow God, you have to be a risk taker. He'll lead you into territory where you'll be forced to walk by faith and not by sight.

Walking on the promises of God always seems risky to us. And there's always that little voice to contend with. "Well, what if it's not true? Am I going to make a fool of myself? What are people going to think if I do that or say that?"

We all would prefer to know exactly how something is going to turn out before we try it.

But the Bible tells us that attitude of distrust is not pleasing to God. In fact, we are told, it is impossible to please God without faith. Take stock of your life. Do you like the way you are living? Do you have a sense of excitement about living, a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment?

If not, get yourself grounded in the promises of God found in His Word and ask Him to help you launch out in faith and take some risks. Take that trip you've wanted to take - alone if you have to. Speak to that person you've wanted to speak to. Do those things you've felt a nudging in your heart to do. "He that loses his life for my sake shall find it," Jesus said.

Jesus was willing not only to risk but to actually suffer pain, rejection, humiliation, death, and every aspect of what the world considers failure. He took our failure so that we might have His victory.

Launch out, knowing that in Him you can't fail. He's already taken the consequences and paid the full price for your failure. That's only one of His very special gifts to us.

c 1997 Sandra S. Turner

Reprinted from Singles Scene/Spirit & Life, a nationwide meeting place for Christian Singles since 1981.