Risk-takers. They’re willing to kick fear aside and take on challenges, regardless of the outcome. They say yes without hesitation. And when a situation seems hopeless, they trust God’s guidance even more.
I’ve always wanted to be a risk-taker. Still, even though I long to be brave for God, fear holds me back every time I get an opportunity to take a risk.
Maybe you’ve been there too. You feel compelled to move forward, but fear surfaces and persuades you to stay put. It presents the same old argument. It’s not safe. As if that weren’t enough, it convinces you it wouldn’t make a difference anyway. And if you’re like me, you give in.
Thankfully, the Bible teaches us a lot about ordinary women who took big risks for God. At that critical moment when a decision had to be made, they chose to take the risk. And the results made history.
A Woman Who Risked Her Safety, Her Home, and Her Heart
Desperate situations called for extreme measures. Abigail knew this well. When her husband Nabal hurled an insult at David, the future king, “Abigail acted quickly.” (1 Sam. 25:18).
This was not your average insult either. David came to Nabal requesting food for his army. Nabal not only rejected the request, but he also lowered David’s name to a place of dishonor. “Who is this David?” The words left a sting so poisonous David felt his only recourse was retaliation. He set out to kill Nabal and all his men.
In spite of her husband’s bad choice, Abigail jumped into action. Nabal would never have consented to Abigail’s decision. Because of this, she moved forward in secret, “...under cover of the mountain,” (1 Sam. 25:20).
Abigail’s name means “the joy of her father.” No doubt she brought joy to her Heavenly Father that day when she offered the best gifts to David.
Abigail knew the wisdom of Proverbs 21:14, “A gift given in secret soothes anger…” She presented her gifts to David in the most submissive, respectful way. She bowed down in his presence to ask forgiveness on behalf of Nabal. (1 Sam. 25:23)
David was so moved by Abigail’s eloquent speech, he thanked God for sending her. God honored her courage by bringing justice upon Nabal while keeping David free from the burden of “needless bloodshed.” (1 Sam. 25:31).
Abigail risked her relationship with her husband to defuse a deadly situation. Her safety, her home, and her heart were saved because she trusted God.
The One Thing That Holds Us Back from Taking a Risk
I can imagine the million and one questions going through my head if I’d been in Abigail’s situation. Trying to work through every detail, analyzing each outcome. Until finally I give up, realizing the whole thing is too overwhelming to deal with.
The truth is, I want to know the outcome before I take the risk.
But if we knew how everything would turn out, it wouldn’t be a risk at all. The problem with this pattern is that it holds us back from developing the kind of bold faith God wants to see in us. The kind of faith that makes a difference in our lives and our world.
Bold faith happens when we learn to take risks for God.
Is there an area of your life where you’ve sensed God nudging you to take a step of faith? Have you been holding back, questioning the outcome of taking that step?
Friend, I wish I could tell you if now is the right time to take the risk. But only YOU can decide if God is guiding you that direction.
I can tell you this. When you commit your step to the Lord, He will give you the next one, and the next, and the next.
“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 NIV
We will be looking at what the Bible says about having risk-taking faith all this month in our weekly devotions. Watch for my email reminders each Monday morning in your inbox, because even us risk-takers could all use a little reminder now and then:)
Blessings,
Kristine
A portion of this devotion is an excerpt from an article by Kristine Brown, “3 Women in the Bible Who Took a Big Risk,” originally published on Crosswalk.com.