Cliff Diving

No, I haven’t ever done this myself. I am not much of a swimmer; I hate heights; and I am scared to death of hitting rocks. There is no way that I would literally dive off of a precipice, but I have jumped off the cliff with God.

I think of Abraham, whom God called to leave behind his country, family, and home to go to a place that God would show him (Gen. 12:1). In those days country-hopping wasn’t very easy. There was no airplane flying Abraham to this new land to look it over and consider God’s instructions. Leaving his land likely meant that someone else would take it over. It is always more comfortable to stay where we are than to risk something new. The situation sounds pretty cliff-like to me! Abraham faced a line of decision, which crossed would mean no turning back.

When God calls us to the edge of the cliff, he urges us to trust him enough to jump.
“Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). The great thing about diving off the bluff is that our faith is in God, not in our abilities to aim and jump well enough to miss the rocks. Instead of focusing on the fall, we look to God who is there to protect us from disaster. Through the eyes of faith, we see him below catching us. The fall might hurt, and it might not be easy to navigate, but it won’t result in our destruction. God has great plans and purposes for us.

As I look back, I can see many times when God asked me to dive off the cliff. Each time I faced the decision to jump, it involved leaving something behind to embrace God’s future. But in every instance I was able to trust him more, having grown in my conviction that he was there unseen to catch me.

This month I have started a ministry, and it’s overwhelming and scary to look at all that must be done. None of it will be easy, but I trust that God has led me here and given me the vision for a new ministry, unlike any I know of.  As you read this, pray that God will continue to further define the vision and provide all the people and resources that we need to implement it.

I pray that you will jump off the cliff next time God urges you to jump. You are in great hands if you do.

What cliffs have you jumped?