There are two kinds of people in this world – those who approach life with caution, and those who simply run and take a flying leap.
At camp, they used the illustration of a swimmer getting ready to get in the water. Some will dip their toe in to test the temperature before they go in – these are the "toe dippers". Others will run, take a flying leap, and just jump in – these as the "cannonball-ers". Both have a place, but both also have issues.
As a self-admitting "toe-dipper", I have a hard time making decisions in my life. In fact, I have turned down so many opportunities in the past five years that it's begun to feel natural. For so long, I wanted to do God's will, but I struggled with this skewed vision of what that was. So, I waited and waited and waited and waited – I didn't want to make a mistake – I didn’t want to hear Him wrong.
I wasted so much time trying to figure out what God's will was, for my life, that I simply did nothing. I struggled in my indecision for so long that I completely lost sight of the banks of the river. While all along God was calling me to JUST. GET. IN. THE. WATER.
Here's the thing that I've learned about God's will, Christians – God didn’t say, "Wallow in your indecision for a while and I will bless you!" He said, "Take up your cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24-26) He didn't say, "My will for you is that you go to a Christian college, get married, start a family, work nine-to-five, retire, and look back and know that you've lived the American dream!" He said, "It's my will that none should perish." (John 6:40)
God's will for our lives isn't a list of things to do in our lifetimes; it's a call to love Him and in the overflow of that love, to be obedient.
It's not so much a matter of what His specific plans for us are, but one of where our hearts are at and what our intentions are. If you're teetering on the edge of saying, "Yes", (to the race or another opportunity) know that if you're really truly pursuing Christ, He's going to bless you.
And to all you "toe dippers" out there, it's time. Fling off all that hinders you and get in the water! Splash in the water, dance in the water, drown in the water! There's no better place to be.
