On “Playing it Safe”
By William Norvell
I am tired of playing it safe. I want to get in the game. I am tired of watching others, copying them, trying to pursue their dreams. I am tired of seeing opportunities in front of me and saying to myself, I can do that, I feel gifted in that area, I have a unique chance to impact that part of God’s kingdom…but never trying, never even starting, and of course, never finishing.
What does it mean to take a meaningful risk? Not to do something crazy, put my life in danger, or risk the well-being of my family—but to put something at stake that truly matters. To find out who Jesus made me to be.
Preconditions for risk
Grace. Grace can take you places that hustling can’t. It’s simple, but profound. Says 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” This verse has brought me to tears…and to my knees. Am I truly loved because of who I am, not in spite of who I am? And is that love enough?
Humility. Intertwined with the power of grace is the power of humility. In 1 Peter 5:5, Peter writes that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” In Deuteronomy 8:2, we see how much God cares about our humble hearts: “And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.” Forty years! Was God worried that the Israelites weren’t innovating, building new towers, creating new technology? No! He wanted their hearts for him, full stop. I must pursue opportunities to serve others not for worldly rewards but rather to uncover my true motivations and find humility.
Passion. The word passion comes from the Latin root “pati,” meaning suffering or enduring. In the Passion of the Christ, we see Jesus refusing to stop climbing that hill, refusing to put down his cross, setting one foot in front of the other so that he will die…and we will live. True passion reveals something that we are willing to suffer for…and people we are willing to suffer with. Meaningful risk is rooted in passion. It’s rooted in the idea that you are willing to suffer for what God has placed on your heart.
Once we understand how much Jesus loves us through his grace, once we submit our hearts to him in humility, and once we fix our eyes on the things he has called us to suffer for, we become the person he made us to be—the greatest risk of all, and also the grandest adventure, and the deepest peace.
What do we risk?
I have heard the Parable of the Talents used to justify financial risk over and over and over again. As I studied this parable, I felt a prompting from the Holy Spirit: “It’s not just about money…It’s about everything!” We must risk it all—all the gifts we have been given—and try to earn interest on everything we have been called to steward: prayer, encouragement, innovation, inspiration, laughter, generosity, courage, and financial resources.
It is through meaningful risk that we grow closer to Jesus, we learn more of his character, and we see more and more of the person he made us to be. This is not an invitation to success, but an invitation to life with Jesus. This path doesn’t promise riches, but it does promise life.
Provisions for the journey
God’s truth. Speak God’s truth to yourself each morning and each night. Look in the mirror; recite what you know.
God’s Word. The Bible is never changing but always illuminating. If you need a place to start, read Romans 8. Feel God’s grace, experience God’s passion, and see His call to humility. Lastly, see his encouragement to meaningful risk covered by his everlasting love.
God’s community. A few months back, I reached my limit. I didn’t want to end my life, but I wanted to disappear. I felt that I had inflicted too much pain on those I love most dearly, and I was convinced that my wife, my children, and many others would be better off if they lived the rest of their lives without me. I relayed this to my community bluntly and they organized a gathering within three hours. They surrounded me, cooked for me, laughed with me, laid hands on me, and reminded me that their lives—and the lives of my family—were better with me. They reminded me that, even though the darkness was strong, I had to run towards the faint light, and I needed to ask for help any time I couldn’t see it. I now carry a picture of that night with me as a reminder of God’s love in community. Don’t do this alone or with fake friends. Community needs to be real, authentic, and rooted in truth.
God Himself. Focus on Jesus. I’m reminded of Peter trusting so much, seeing so much love and confidence in Jesus’s eyes, that he stepped out on the water. Then, he got scared, he faltered, he looked at the horizon, and he fell. Jesus was, of course, there to pick him up. It’s a paradox of love, but if we can focus on him, we won’t fall—we will remain steady. Every risk we take out of obedience to him will be worth it.
William Norvell is the Co-Founder of Forte and Faith Driven Entrepreneur, and a long-time investor who loves working with people and helping them become the best version of themselves.
