Stepping Out Beyond the "Sure"

I know this is a little bit unconventional, but this has been on my heart for the past week. Instead of writing my devotional based on a set of scriptures, it’s going to be based off of a lyric. I feel like God has really put this on my heart as something I need to hear, and also something I need to share. The lyrics I want to share are from the song “You Make Me Brave” by Bethel Music. The first lyric is “You call me out beyond the shore into the waves.” and the other lyric is “So I will let you call me out beyond the shore into your grace.”

Currently in my life, I’m at the fork in the road. I’ve had every part of my future planned out, and now as I approach the fork I can see another road opening. I’ve been struggling trying to decide where God is calling me, not sure of anything, wondering where my place should be. And as I listen to “You Make Me Brave”, these previous two lyrics have really been sticking out to me. In a different way, however. When I hear them, it sounds a lot less like “shore” and a lot more like “sure”. I can hear God calling me out beyond the “sure” into the waves, the tough but beautiful future that lies ahead of me. The thing that really strikes me is that all of us, every single one of us, are being called by God. All of us are being called beyond our comfort zones. But how many of us actually answer those calls? I can guarantee you there a lot more people who choose to hang up. And it makes sense. Think about it, why risk so much? Why go through uncomfortable situations, not sure of what the next day will bring? Why ignore the knowledge we have telling us to stay sheltered? One reason: God’s grace. Just like the second lyric says, I will let God call me out beyond the sure, beyond my comfort zone, because in doing so I’m lead straight into God’s grace. God’s grace is available to everyone, just not everybody gets to experience it. Why? Because the very people who are complaining about the absence of God’s grace in their lives, are the people who also chose to hang up when God called. By rejecting God’s plan for us, we also reject the reward of grace gained from fulfilling his plan. Everybody is offered God's grace. It's just a matter of whether we decide to accept it or reject it. However, if we chose to answer God’s call, and leave the safety of the shore, every step we take will lead us deeper and deeper into His abundant grace. We leave our shore, our safety, our control, but as far as we get from all these things, the closer we are to God’s grace, God’s safety and control. God’s comfort zone. In 2 Corinthians 1:3 it says God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. All comfort stems from Him. That being said, our comfort, comfort from our friends and family, everything that keeps us “safe” in our comfort zones, that’s nothing compared to the comfort God has to offer. We have comfort, God is comfort.

Sure there are times in our lives when we’re tempted to hang up, but remember God has called each and every one of us for different purposes. If you feel God tugging your heart in a specific direction, pursue it. We’re never going to be 100% sure about anything. There’s always going to be a risk factor, knowledge we can’t obtain, or doubts about what to do. But because of faith, we can walk confidently in the direction Christ has called us. No matter what you do, God’s plan for you will be fulfilled one way or another. God calls every single one of us beyond our comfort into the rocky waves. Out of our shelter into the unknown. Grace is one path, rejection is another. Each road will have obstacles to overcome, troubles thrown at us, tough times to get through. But one path leads to grace, and the other leads to continuous troubles. Which road will you choose to travel? Will you answer when God calls?