When is the last time you took a risk? How did it work out?

I mean, is it really a RISK??? Or is it a leap of FAITH???

As a high school Business teacher, I know that risks are a natural part of life and that they are often categorized as either Pure or Speculative. I also know that my propensity to exceed speed limits, procrastinate on assignments/projects/work, and eat foods that I’m clearly allergic to are all risks that I take daily. Yet for those “big ticket” items, I don’t think that I can say they are risks, but instead demonstrations of my faith and trust in God. With that, the last leap of faith that I took was when I released my schedule and resigned from several positions.

You see, my New Year’s Resolutions are always elaborate, focusing on more than just the standard lose weight and save money. In addition to my S.M.A.R.T. goal(s), I include God-inspired direction and guidance for the year, and this year God told me to put my life in balance by reducing my schedule obligations. On January 3rd I submitted three letters of resignation for various positions including my part-time tutoring role, a stipended advisor position, and a seat on a Board of Education committee. As soon as I hit SEND on those three emails, I felt like I could breathe freely for the first time in months! Due to my ADHD, I often over-commit myself and don’t realize until it’s far too late that my schedule is too taxing for me. And for 2025, God needed me to pull back. Thank You, Lord!

In the months since that fresh breath experience, God has called me to release two other roles that I once cherished deeply… including the title of “minister” at my local church. Now that was the MAJOR leap of faith! Relinquishing a duty that I erroneously believed was tied to the ministry that God had placed within me was so difficult to do. Yet prayer and fasting revealed that that release was necessary… and would not erase the calling on my life. I believed that- received that- and moved accordingly.

Moving in faith is a huge risk! Will everything work out the way we desire, or will we experience a setback? Even as I write this, I am listening to a song that says, “be encouraged,” and I can hear God’s still, soft voice reminding me that in Him there is no failure; there may be “risk,” but there is always reward.