Take the Leap!

I opened my inbox, excited to read what roles I’d been assigned for an upcoming women’s ministry weekend–until my assignments felt larger, longer, and weightier than I’d expected. Fear bloomed in my chest, tightening and pulsing as I looked for somewhere, someway, to hide from this assignment.

I can’t do this! How do I get out of it? And most of all, I’m scared.

The same tape played a few days later, when I re-checked my emails and read about a great, intimidating publishing opportunity I already avoided last year. Here it was again, the same opportunity, and here I was of the same belief, that I’m not enough.  

But this time, a small voice inside me dared to wonder, Will you ever take the leap? 

We serve a God who doesn’t want us to shrink away from our holy assignments. He doesn’t tell us to fear discipleship opportunities or hide within insecurities that pester us, uninvited. He longs for us to lean into what our fear might be telling us–about ourselves and where our confidence comes from.

Where should our confidence come from? In John 7:38-39, Jesus says: 

“38 ‘The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him.’ 39 He said this about the Spirit.”

The Spirit of the living God is an endless stream of living water. 

Living water that resides in me, and anyone who believes in Jesus post-resurrection. 

That’s where true confidence comes from. 

My fear initially bubbled to the surface because I didn’t have confidence in my abilities. My insecurities, my evaluation of my capability, kept my feet firmly planted right where I was. But it’s not about me–it’s about the Holy Spirit, and what He can do in and through me. The Spirit empowers me, empowers us, to take the leap into our next holy assignment. 

What do you want to shrink away from today? What makes you want to cower in the corner lately? If scripture has anything to say to you, do not be afraid (Isaiah 41:10; 2 Timothy 1:7). The Lord is not only with you; the Spirit is inside of you, uniting you with His streams of living water that flow deep within you.

This next leap might just be what’s needed for the growth and good God is creating in your story. May you take the leap today not because of your merit, but through your confidence in the Spirit of the living God.