There’s a caveat to taking risks that is stowed away until you make the wild, insane decision to make an actual move on your dreams.
There’s a teeny tiny font disclaimer that scrolls across in a blink right before you commit gutsy action to saying yes to spiraling deeper into this version of you that God has created you to be and to slipping into something He has lead you to.
Disclaimer: Not everyone is going to like this.
Even though there was this consistent stirring within me emotionally that ranged from doubtful to exuberant, the majority of people outside of my own mind were outrageously positive and encouraging. Their excitement reinforced my excitement that much more. I quickly transitioned into sharing more about this 11 month journey that has the purpose of Christ as the fuel. Again, most welcomed wanting to hear what the pen over my life was scribbling on new pages.
Then someone said no.
And it rocked me.
It wasn’t as if I hardly knew them at all. I thought they were a friend. The only turn away from me sharing that I was expecting was from those that did not have similar Jesus following beliefs because that made sense.
Not at all. It’s been a surprising realization to me that there will be people I never expected be the most overjoyed – even strangers I’ve never met or someone I just met. Some of my closest friends will want every detail while some want no part in hearing about what the next step is. Even family might not be proud but instead leery and disgruntled about what is planned for the next year.
“I wish you would have made a different choice.” “It’s too dangerous.” “Don’t expect a penny from me.” Or the worst: silence and not saying a word or a sugar-coated ‘I don’t care.’
It would be me trying to act haughty and untouchable if I said that others rejecting hearing my story and not being behind me in this choice didn’t cause a resounding sting. In the sudden doubt and confusion, I reeled backwards. Soon one of my dearest friends and I were comparing situations where people have had their mightily shouting opinions or when they didn’t want to be in joy beside us. In the middle of laying out my words during the still aching sting, I eventually came to a conclusion.
When we risk in enormous ways and set our feet hard after our dreams, rejection and resistance will surely always follow.
It isn’t even that I’ve been sent venomous text messages or felt the heat of extreme hate in conversations. At least not yet. I honestly believe that often I’ve been resisted against out of other’s own personal fear. This isn’t normal, this doesn’t appear to be the safest option, and I care about you so you cannot leave. Often they’re fighting me out of their love for me and need to protect my well-being or to keep their own plan for my life intact.
Then there are simply those that want nothing to do with me. They want to hear nothing, be a part of nothing, and some want me to know how against it they are.
And truthfully, both are okay. There are feelings, emotions, and struggles others are experiencing that we don’t know about that could cause negative reactions. Some people also try to love us in odd, peculiar ways. In whatever kind of resistance, we both should offer grace even when we aren’t always the best at it.
They deserve to be offered grace in some form but what is not deserved is you changing your mind.
I’ll pop in here to let you know I’m not saying that all risks are wise. If you’re reading this and it’s confirming that you really should date that guy/girl who doesn’t treat you well or that you should say adios to college by dropping out and giving up then I must not be writing this well enough. That’s on me. Cause that’s not it. And there is a lovely place for well-intentioned wisdom and discernment in our lives that others can speak into.
Instead, I want to emphasize staying after those dreams that God has electrified your heart with.
Countless moments I’ve been witness to when people give over their steps to the Lord, other people and circumstances crash and bumble in to shake up their confidence or cause second-guessing.
In a church launch when the key focus is reaching the lost in your city, the enemy will come knocking. If you switch your major late in the year because the Lord is leading you a different direction, some may question your smarts in that decision including yourself. If you leave a job you hate for a job with a lesser paycheck that you light from within doing, a handful still will think you’re crazy for not wanting the job with more money.
If the Lord has His hand within yours, keep walking forward despite the rejection and resistance. There are way more fighting for you on earth and in heaven than ones wanting to hold you back. Keep time with Him and after all that He has for you. He knows better than any of us ever do. And if we make a mistake, there’s space for grace towards ourselves, the Lord will grow us, and even then we still keep our hand in His as we each fiercely follow Him.
