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When my daughters Aly and Kylie were little girls, I’d lift them into a big tree in our backyard, step back a few feet, and encourage them to jump. One after the other, they’d take turns leaping into my arms, giggling and squealing all the way.
At first, they jumped with a bit of hesitation. But it wasn’t long before they were jumping confidently and eagerly into my arms. Why? My daughters leaped because they believed their Daddy could and would catch them. They jumped again and again because I never dropped them. Not once. They trusted me because I caught them. Every time. So, when I said, “Jump!” they’d grin and leap, convinced that I’d catch them.
They were confident because I was reliable and strong.
Simply put, authentic faith is demonstrated reliance on something or someone. I was the trustworthy object of my daughters’ “jumping” faith, just as our Father God is the strong and sure Object of our child-like faith. He’s all-powerful, everywhere present at once, and forever reliable. That’s why we can always trust him.
I’m convinced that real faith swings out and jumps. It doesn’t stand still or stay put. It doesn’t fizzle or freeze. It’s active, not passive. Faith ventures out. It takes a stand. It makes a move.
The Bible says, “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17). That means authentic faith always acts. It does something. It’s far more than just knowing what you believe. It’s living out what you believe with all your mind, heart and strength. It’s putting feet to your faith!
Faith is like taking a parachute jump from a Cessna high in the sky. It’s an awesome adventure of stepping out, pulling the rip cord and trusting God, not knowing what’s happening next.
Abraham moved his family to a foreign country where nobody knew his name. Then God gave him some land, allowed him to prosper, and blessed his family forever. Noah built a big ark on dry ground where nobody had seen a boat. Then God made it float during a flood that covered the earth. Joshua ordered his warriors and priests to circle Jericho, blowing trumpets instead of throwing spears, while the city people watched and wondered. Then God collapsed the walls.
The Bible tells how ordinary people trusted our extraordinary God, and saw and did some awesome things. As faith-walkers, we can experience great exploits with God, too. Because God pre-packs our parachutes, we can trust him and jump out, all day long. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. We can trust God with absolute confidence and certainty because he’s always with us, ready to catch us. No maybes. No what ifs. And best of all, no drops. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). That’s what I call “jumping out” faith!
Abba Father, you’re sovereign and reliable. I believe you’ve pre-packed my life with purpose. So, because I know I can always trust you, I choose to jump out and live by faith today.