In August of 2025, I went on a 5,000 mile journey across 7 US states. I camped 10 nights, rode my bike in far-away places, had a bike-failure, got sick with a cold, didn’t always eat enough, and pushed the limits of my endurance over an extended period of time. Was I wrong to take those risks? Was I testing God, tempting fate, provoking evil?
A good question to ask then is: “How does a Christian determine the appropriate amount of risk they should/shouldn’t take?” This doesn’t have to be limited to special circumstances. This question is relevant to our careers, relationships, spiritual decisions, financial commitments and a thousand other topics. The amount of risk we CAN take is adjustable; although I would say that some amount of risk will always remain, no matter what we do. Assuming we have free-will, then there are certainly choices we can make which increase the likelihood of bad outcomes. However, not all circumstances are within my control. Through no fault of my own, bad things happen. Conversely, I can take short-cuts and gamble on the results.
Who should decide what amount of risk is appropriate for us to take? What criteria should we use to assess how much risk is too much? Is there a single formula for risk assessment, or does my level of risk acceptance have to be reevaluated every day?
My 2 week trip provided plenty of opportunities to reflect on these questions. Here’s what I have concluded…
2 Things that DON’T Matter
- PLACE: When traveling away from home, there is a little voice in my head that says, “You’re away from home, be careful. It’s not as safe out here.” This implies that the comfortableness, convenience, familiarity, resources (and whatever else defines the word ‘home’) is a dome of protection which surrounds the place I call home. That’s a really flimsy tissue of protection. I want to reassure myself with that assumption, but it’s not true. As a Christian, I know God is my protection, not an imaginary ‘fortress’ which I hope possesses special powers to ward off evil.
- HOLINESS: When I am being good, there is a little voice in my head that says, “Have confidence, God is on your side.” This implies that God rewards my good behavior by protecting me from suffering and evil. But, if I mess up, then He is free to let all sorts of calamities to befall me. In fact, this way of thinking leads me to believe in a God who uses carrots and sticks to teach me to behave properly. This is simply false. As a Christian, I know bad things happen to good people, and vice versa. My personal holiness (or lack thereof) doesn’t dictate whether or not I suffer. My stupidity may play a major role in my suffering, but that’s a different topic.
2 Things that Always Matter
- What does God say about it? Instead of listening to that little voice in my head, I need to listen to the Holy Spirit. Whatever He says to me, … DO THAT. This requires 3 steps: ask Him genuinely what to do, wait patiently for His answer and recognize His voice when He speaks. It can take years of practice for any Christian to consistently take those 3 steps. But, it really matters.
- How do I become my true-self? Often, God doesn’t answer our legitimate questions. This is where our faith is tested. When we don’t have clear direction from God, we must rely on our faith. This is an opportunity to grow into the person that God created us to be. By taking a “leap of faith”, we are risking something we already are… in order to become something new. This reliance on God (expressed through the exercising of our faith) can seem irrational to others. But as a Christian, I know that my faith can look like foolishness to others. God brings me into circumstances that will strengthen my faith, change me on the inside, and bring Him glory. If I shy away, I miss out on all that.
Reasonable Faith
I have reasons to be confident in the protection and plans of God. That’s not a guarantee of easy living. The road can be VERY bumpy, but it leads somewhere fantastic.
The experiences of my recent trip have caused me to re-think what matters and what is irrelevant. All in all, I’m now more comfortable with seeing and navigating the Christian line between caution and recklessness.
Great ideas, true perceptions around who God is, and limits our perspective about false assumptions made up by ourselves, that we use to sooth or comfort ourselves into a false sense of security not made by God..