Risk.
Such a small word, yet its impact in our lives is massive.
We run every decision we make through this single question:
What is the risk to me?
Whether you are choosing which food will sit better in your stomach or you are deciding if skydiving is a good weekend activity to participate in, you are analyzing whether the potential payoff of success is better than the potential cost of failure.
I knew there was risk involved in coming on the World Race. I could have contracted diseases, I could have suffered bodily harm, I could have been robbed or mugged, or I even could have died.
I knew all those things but I also knew the potential of God’s blessings in store for me outweighed my fears and anxieties.
I knew that to be true about the Race. Why do I not have the same confidence in my relationships?
Because relationships are fraught with risk. To have a relationship you have to open yourself up, to share the things you normally keep hidden. And then you have to trust the other person to be kind, to extend grace, and to not use your openness as a chance to wound you.
Every relationship has risk involved. And the way we mitigate this risk is by not fully showing ourselves and trying to convince ourselves that only going part way in our relationships will be enough to satisfy us because we are too scared to open ourselves fully to the people around us.
The lies that are easiest to believe are the ones we tell ourselves.
I’ve believed this lie for a long time. I thought I could have safety and authentic relationships at the same time.
But even our relationship with God isn’t “safe.”
A certain beaver had this to say about a lion of a magical land called Narnia.
“Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
At the end of Deuteronomy it says this about Moses after his death:
Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face… Deuteronomy 34:10
Moses, who had an intimate relationship with God like no one else has, did not have a relationship with God devoid of fear. In fact, his very first encounter left him terrified.
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Exodus 3:5-6
Relationship with God is not “safe.” Read Exodus 19 if you want another example.
It isn’t safe, but it is good.
A safe relationship is a boring relationship.
You are safe in the shallows, but as you attain more depth you begin to discover more wonderful things.
There is effort required to reach these depths though. Effort and risk.
But it is worth it.
Authentic relationship is what we were made for, and nothing short of vulnerable, honest connection will satisfy that within us.
No matter what the risk is.
So be daring. Be bold. Dive into the depths.
Take a risk. It would be a bigger one not to.
