by Shelene Bryan
I can now say that I’ve been out of my comfort zone many times. But my life has not always been like that. God called me out of my extremely comfortable life to Africa, led me to found Skip1.org, and to share my life-changing experiences with the world in my first book, Love, Skip, Jump. Little did I know that was just the beginning.
The last two days of my trip to Uganda featured a safari in Queen Elizabeth Park, a special trip intended to decompress after an intense week of feeding children in nearby villages. Our guide, who was decked out in army-green military fatigues with an AK-47 rifle on his shoulder, didn’t speak great English but the group didn’t ask one question. They were too excited about what was in store. I, on the other hand, was full of questions. Questions like Does anyone else think we’re going to die? and Is he serious right now?
Coolio (that was his actual name—can’t make this stuff up!) explained we would be hiking to the bottom of a gorge and to be on the lookout for chimps, the main attraction for this particular hike. One mile later and we still hadn’t seen a single chimp. Not wanting to sound like an “are we there yet?” five year old, but kind of exhausted and over the hike, I asked Coolio how much longer this excursion might last. He offered a shortcut, which the rest of the group readily agreed to. So our fearless guide led us to a two-foot-wide log suspended some 20 feet above a rushing river, in which we had just seen a huge hippo with a mouth full o’ teeth.
No safety harness or net. And did I mention it was raining? And the hungry, hungry hippo down below?
Coolio said, “Follow me,” and a few guys in the group walked across like it was no big deal while I asked myself, When did I sign up for Fear Factor? Realizing I was going to be left behind in the jungle, I took that first step and prayed with each step across the wet log. Before I knew it, I was safely on the other side.
To say I was far from my comfort zone during that safari would be a huge understatement—at times I was downright scared. Putting all of my faith in a wet log and taking that first step was a huge lesson in faith, and one that I would have missed had I let my fear take control. Sure, I told Coolio I would follow him and walk across the log but I had to do more than just say I would. I had to act and take that step.
Fear has become a common driver for many and affects practically every area of our lives. We fear what we know and what we don’t. But God does not want us to live in fear! In fact, fear is the opposite of faith. We were created to have faith in our Creator, and have the confidence that only he gives. In Hebrews 11:1–2, we are told: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Faith is more than just saying you believe. Just believing the right stuff isn’t enough. God has called us to let go of our crippling fears and trust him completely. Real faith is believing and surrendering to the point that you’re willing to take a step off the edge of safety into the dangerous unknown.
In order to live a radically faith-filled life we must let go of our fears and offer ourselves as living sacrifices to our Creator, allowing our life to be used for His purpose. I am talking about seeking Jesus in the place where He said He would be found. I am talking about getting out of your comfort zone, your cultural and social bubble. Getting down and dirty and serving others—because that is where we will see Jesus. God is more than able to handle your fears, worries and anxieties. In Psalm 55:2 we are told: “Turn your burdens over to the Lord and He will take care of you. He will never let the righteous stumble.”
I haven’t always understood this ridiculous faith we’re called to have. I used to live a pretty self-absorbed, extravagant life in Los Angeles until God revealed to me how I could be His hands and feet to a world in need. Since I took that jump—traveling to Africa, recognizing the overwhelming hunger and poverty there and starting the non-profit Skip1.org when I returned home—I’ve learned how much more rewarding, exciting, and fulfilling life is when you answer God’s call to live out an absurdly, unbelievably good faith. Ridiculous faith.
Life is a vapor and each day is a gift from God (cliché, yes, but oh so true!). Don’t waste this life living in fear and dwelling on uncertainties. Let go and allow God to transform your faith so that you might live a more abundant life!
Shelene Bryan is the author of Ridiculous Faith: Experience the Power of an Absurdly, Unbelievably Good God (Thomas Nelson, March 2016), and Love, Skip, Jump, and the founder of nonprofit Skip1.org, which provides food and clean water to children around the world.
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