Can I be honest with you because I have a confession to make. Truth is, I’ve often struggled with this concept of a “leap of faith.”
Growing up, I was notorious for saying “I don’t like doing something I’m not good at, or that I don’t know the outcome of.” This was Kamoi in a nutshell! Someone who enjoyed planning more than she liked spontaneous adventure. One who found comfort in the predictable and expected. One who liked to dream within a controlled environment wherein all possible outcomes were measured, analyzed, considered, and evaluated!
I know, I know – that’s a lot.
But hear me out, I think a lot more of us are like that than we want to admit. We want to know what is coming ahead so that when faced with a situation, we are fully aware of the costs associated with our response.
If I am allowed to continue with my honesty, I would argue that I STILL fight against those tendencies. While there is nothing wrong with planning and having strong analytical skills (all the policy analysts said AMEN), I think that when applied to how we live this borrowed life God has given us, we can start to become comfortable with a false sense of control.
I once had a good friend of mine, after hearing me speak about my desire to know all the things at all times, say to me “well Kamoi, how is what you’re describing living a life of faith?”
The truth is, it isn’t 🫤
The truth also is that seasons of significant growth in my life have all come as a result of me taking a leap – going against my comfort & control, and living a life of faith. The proverbial letting go and letting God as they say.
Practically this has looked like:
- moving to Ottawa in 2018 to do my Masters in a season where I was wondering and wandering through what the future would hold;
- stepping into positions and roles in my career that on paper, I wasn’t qualified for but were opportunities from the Lord; or even,
- releasing previously held beliefs of my identity this year, and step into a season of redefining myself through Christ, ultimately for His glory.
In the examples I listed above, my leap of faith into the unknown and unplanned always yielded fruit. Now I want to be very clear, taking a leap of faith does not mean taking an unwise stride into disobedience. The Lord is very clear in His Word about seeking wisdom, counsel, and to search the Word in all we do (quite literally read all of Proverbs as your homework on this my friend).
Know that while a leap of faith can be unexplainable, when done in obedience, it will never contradict His word. No questions asked on that one. Yet God also reminds us in His word consistently that those who walk in the counsel of the ungodly will not be blessed (Psalm 1:1). A leap of faith will align with the Word and therefore be in the will of the father. But I would add that to ensure the perfect will of God* there must be continual prayer/intercession in your own time, as well as wise counsel from godly men and/or women in your life. It is a daily thing! It is a willingness to know that the leaps and jumps of faith He is asking of you will require going back to hear from Him on a regular basis. Like many things in this life (repentance, mercy, grace), this life of faith turns us towards Him, reminding us of our ever present dependency and need for Him in every decision we make.
Friend, I have learned that a leap of faith is not something to be scared of. Contrary to my risk averse nature, walking a life of faith should not be seen as a risk. When in obedience to what God has asked you to do, it can be the most assuring decision you’ll ever make. Letting go into the perfect will of your Father – there’s just nothing quite like it.
*Note: the perfect will of God does not mean that everything is perfect. Rather it has more to do with doing what He has asked (aligned with His will for all people in scripture), at the time and in the way He has asked of you regardless of what it looks like!
Kamoi McWhinney
Kamoi McWhinney is a daughter, sister, and friend. The moment she had an encounter with God and accepted Him into her life was the moment she found what she was missing. In the most intimate of settings He grabbed hold of her heart, and filled those empty spaces with a love so deep she couldn’t contain it. In that overflow, she found something to sing about, someOne to wholeheartedly trust in, and a purpose to live for. Her passions consist of all things worship music, hearing people’s stories, and Bubble Tea! 🙂
Can I be honest with you because I have a confession to make. Truth is, I’ve often struggled with this concept of a “leap of faith.”
Growing up, I was notorious for saying “I don’t like doing something I’m not good at, or that I don’t know the outcome of.” This was Kamoi in a nutshell! Someone who enjoyed planning more than she liked spontaneous adventure. One who found comfort in the predictable and expected. One who liked to dream within a controlled environment wherein all possible outcomes were measured, analyzed, considered, and evaluated!
I know, I know – that’s a lot.
But hear me out, I think a lot more of us are like that than we want to admit. We want to know what is coming ahead so that when faced with a situation, we are fully aware of the costs associated with our response.
If I am allowed to continue with my honesty, I would argue that I STILL fight against those tendencies. While there is nothing wrong with planning and having strong analytical skills (all the policy analysts said AMEN), I think that when applied to how we live this borrowed life God has given us, we can start to become comfortable with a false sense of control.
I once had a good friend of mine, after hearing me speak about my desire to know all the things at all times, say to me “well Kamoi, how is what you’re describing living a life of faith?”
The truth is, it isn’t 🫤
The truth also is that seasons of significant growth in my life have all come as a result of me taking a leap – going against my comfort & control, and living a life of faith. The proverbial letting go and letting God as they say.
Practically this has looked like:
- moving to Ottawa in 2018 to do my Masters in a season where I was wondering and wandering through what the future would hold;
- stepping into positions and roles in my career that on paper, I wasn’t qualified for but were opportunities from the Lord; or even,
- releasing previously held beliefs of my identity this year, and step into a season of redefining myself through Christ, ultimately for His glory.
In the examples I listed above, my leap of faith into the unknown and unplanned always yielded fruit. Now I want to be very clear, taking a leap of faith does not mean taking an unwise stride into disobedience. The Lord is very clear in His Word about seeking wisdom, counsel, and to search the Word in all we do (quite literally read all of Proverbs as your homework on this my friend).
Know that while a leap of faith can be unexplainable, when done in obedience, it will never contradict His word. No questions asked on that one. Yet God also reminds us in His word consistently that those who walk in the counsel of the ungodly will not be blessed (Psalm 1:1). A leap of faith will align with the Word and therefore be in the will of the father. But I would add that to ensure the perfect will of God* there must be continual prayer/intercession in your own time, as well as wise counsel from godly men and/or women in your life. It is a daily thing! It is a willingness to know that the leaps and jumps of faith He is asking of you will require going back to hear from Him on a regular basis. Like many things in this life (repentance, mercy, grace), this life of faith turns us towards Him, reminding us of our ever present dependency and need for Him in every decision we make.
Friend, I have learned that a leap of faith is not something to be scared of. Contrary to my risk averse nature, walking a life of faith should not be seen as a risk. When in obedience to what God has asked you to do, it can be the most assuring decision you’ll ever make. Letting go into the perfect will of your Father – there’s just nothing quite like it.
*Note: the perfect will of God does not mean that everything is perfect. Rather it has more to do with doing what He has asked (aligned with His will for all people in scripture), at the time and in the way He has asked of you regardless of what it looks like!
Leave a Reply