Friday, April 16

The Lord said to Samuel, “…I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.”
—1 Samuel 16: 1-2

There’s so much in life we simply don’t do because we’re afraid. Afraid of what may happen to us. Afraid things may not turn out as expected. Afraid of what people will think of us. Afraid we will fail. Afraid we will be left raw and ragged, forgotten and alone to tend our aching wounds. Even when it feels like a call from heaven to take action, fear can cause us to hang back, relying on the safety of sameness rather than venturing into risky holiness.

The problem is that it’s hard to detect miracles from a place of safety. When each day unfolds like the one before it, and we wonder why we’re so uninterested in the call to holy living, we can be sure that fear has become our master. But, as the song by Josh Groban proclaims, “there’s a moment when fear and dreams must collide.”

When with trembling heart, we challenge our cold fear to try something new, or to respond to the Spirit’s inner nudge, or to glimpse what has been but a silent dream, we will be surprised by the warmth of God's presence. The Holy Breath that swirls around us can clear the fog and reveal grand and glorious happenings just waiting for those who muster the courage to step forward in faith.

In the midst of those grand and glorious happenings, the holy life is suddenly charged with excitement and our soul tingles with anticipation of what is to come.

Take a chance on holiness. Take a chance on God. Toss away your fear and move into the unknown where God’s power will lead and astonish you.

Gracious God, let me long for what is yet to be seen and courageously step out to find it. Amen.

These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2008.