Embracing Risk

“Fear not for I AM with you; be not dismayed for I AM your God.”
- Isaiah 41:10

I’ve been learning more and more about myself as an evangeleader and one of the challenges I face is my own aversion towards risk. It is something I’ve had to face in the mirror, question, and manage in order to get where I am today. Ever since I started pursuing my true calling in 2000, it has been a journey of making decisions that require me to embrace risk.

Risk is defined as “exposure to the chance of injury or loss.” Certain decisions may expose us to a loss of money, respect, image, comfort, stability, riches, or even bodily health. When we fly, we are exposed to the possibility of crashing into the open sea. When we eat, we’re exposed to the chance of food poisoning, but most of us do these things without thinking much about the risk involved. Why?

Well, for one, we see the great benefit of eating and flying. In my case, if I don’t eat, I’ll disappear…so it is not an option for me :) I also highly doubt anyone wants to sail across the sea or drive to every work assignment that is several states away. We take on risk because of the overwhelming benefit.

Also note that we take on the risk of everyday decisions because somehow we have already estimated the possibility of experiencing loss or injury. We fly on vacation because we doubt anything would really happen. The possibility of injury or loss is very low. There are no equations or statistics running through our minds, we simply move forward because past experience and our observations give us a feeling of comfort.

As an Evangeleader, the ability to embrace risk is going to be a huge part of your success. Decisions to follow a career path, move across the country, take a new promotion, start a small business, or enter the mission field cannot be made without embracing risk. If we live in fear of the risks involved in life, it will be very difficult to fulfill our calling and glorify God at our maximum potential.

Before you opt out of your next decision because of the risk involved, consider these 3 key points:

1. First, what is the potential benefit of embracing the risk?

2. Second, think about your past experiences with God. Has he demonstrated a pattern of letting you down? Probably not. If so, you have to question whether your decisions were outside of His will.

3. Third, before you run towards your comfort zone, what do you observe in the lives of other men and women of faith. Has God let them down when they made a Godly and Risky decision?

Past experience should tell you that God delivers big time and observing God’s hand in the lives of others will just reinforce that fact. Remember, the Evangeleader is not just a leader in society. We’re leaders that walk with the Author and Finisher of our faith. Learn to embrace risk, because the benefits could be beyond your imagination.

Pop the Culture,

Bro. Wize

Who are you?

“Who once were not a people but are now the people of God...”
- 1 Peter 2: 10

Expanding your influence, changing the world around you, excelling in your career, developing others, pursuing personal development, using your core strengths…what a great journey for the Evangeleader! But you're more than the activities you are involved in. You're more than the influence you are building. There is more to you than meets the eye. Transformers was a great movie by the way!

As you continue to lead in the marketplace, in the arts, in ministry, or any other career calling, the Evangeleader has to have a strong understanding of their IDENTITY. Identity goes deeper than the actions we demonstrate in public. Identity taps into how well we know our roots. Where did we come from? What drives our inner values? If our possessions are gone, what defines us then?

Before we found God, we were traveling through life aimlessly with no sense of purpose to identify with. We were the product of environment changes and other people’s perceptions. We didn’t have much to hope for because without a God to promise a destiny, life was a game of chance. Our values were corrupt and instead of leading, we followed the tide of life.

Now we are Evangeleaders…“the people of God”. You are not just your parent’s child, or an employee, student, or an entrepreneur. You are of God. How is that for an identity? To be of God is to have access to His direction. We have the ability to trust in someone much bigger than ourselves. When we are challenged in our journey, we know that God can guide us on the path of best results. As failure rears its ugly head, we can hold on to the fact that we are a people that have an eternal hope, grace to endure, and the ability to tap into the Divine. God’s character and image is within us, eager to take control.

As you influence pop culture, remind yourself that your identity is in God. Not man, money, activity, or power. First be bold in God then be bold in what God does through you.

Pop The Culture,

Bro. Wize