By Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew
It’s always wonderful to connect with people from your hometown. I had lunch with a friend. It was a time of reminiscing and talking about mutual points of reference like various neighborhoods, schools and politics. Leaving home for both of us was important for our growth. It was difficult to leave behind our families, friends and the experiences that shaped us.
At the time, it was frightening to leave the familiar but sometimes to get to the greater, you must walk out on faith. Leaving Louisiana at almost 18 years old was a walk of faith that was a road of so much uncertainty but I’m so glad I believed God enough to go.
Walking out on faith is hard. It’s hard to leave behind those things that give us a sense of security. The Bible shares a fitting example of what happens when we choose to hang on to that which is familiar. Jesus had a conversation with a young ruler.
After the young ruler asked about what it takes to go to heaven, Jesus responded to follow the commandments. “The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.” (Matthew 19:16-26)
The young ruler’s security was in his ‘stuff ‘. He trusted what he had instead of believing that in leaving some things behind, we can gain so much. For many of us, we are held hostage to what others tell us is important or what society has placed value upon. Instead of listening to the call of God and walking out on faith, we allow others to tell us what isn’t possible.
“If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.”(Matthew 19:16-26)
We become afraid of losing the familiar because the uncertainty requires us to lose control. We would rather stay in situations that do not serve us well because it is more comfortable to do so than trust God, step out on faith and believe the promises of God. The Bible says, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6) God is with you even when you aren’t sure where you are going or where the road will take you.
The “them” that make us doubt and afraid aren’t always the folks that are our enemies.
The “them” can sometimes be the folks that are closest to us who project their insecurities and fears upon us. It isn’t always them though—it could be “us”. Our refusal to let go blocks God from taking us to the new and different. We must be willing to go with God even when we don’t have all the answers and it requires us to give up something that we value.
What would have happened if the young ruler would have been willing to walk away from what was familiar? He was more focused on the here and now instead of imagining the impossible when you choose to go with Christ. Is it possible that he could have gained even more if he trusted God?
Are you holding on to something that is keeping you from God’s best for your life? Is there a relationship, a job, or a situation that you need to let go of but because it supplies some level of security, you remain only to lose your peace? Your security is in your relationship with God, not the ‘stuff ‘. It’s okay to leave what is “home” for you. God has something so much better for you when you are willing to let go, trust, and walk with God to your next which requires you to move—in your thinking, in your actions and in your behaviors.
Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.
