I’m looking at the perspective of this picture. Someone has climbed – presumably a long way up. It may be hot, it may be dry. To find relief from those conditions, the option is to jump. Jump into cool, refreshing water.

Would you do it? People do all the time. I’ve watched cliff divers when I’ve been on vacation. I don’t know if I could do it. What’s below the surface? Jagged rocks? Nope. I’m not that brave.

But a few weeks ago, I did it.

I jumped.

Not literally.

Figuratively.

And the next day I was filled with fear. Terror. Gut-wrenching pain.

I cried. I sobbed. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t form words.

Had a made the biggest mistake of my life?

Maybe.

Until…

God said, “I got this.”

And He did.

I used to stress over composing weekly emails to over 1,000 people.

Now I’m copying and pasting HTML code for emails that reach over 7,000.

I ran social media pages that reached into the low thousands, with connected groups made up of hundreds of people.

I open my social media feeds now and see over 20,000 people in a group and many thousands following our page.

I used to get excited over social media notifications. Now I’ve turned them off. There are so many, I can’t do my job.

My written or simple Google Doc to-do list has become a collaborative task list in Asana, where I’m learning how to do a kanban board. (Can I edit an existing project or tasks and move them to a board or do I need to start over? Help!)

I dreamed of ways to impact a small geographical area. Now I realize I’m impacting the world.

I wished for a window office. Yesterday I spent all day working outside.

God instructs us to stay faithful in the small things and He will bless that. He keeps His promises.

I remind myself to stay humble. It’s not about me. It’s about Jesus. Getting people to a relationship with Him is the most important thing I will ever do. Ever.

It’s taken sacrifice. I’ve given up comfort and security and I’ve invested both my own time and money.

People have graciously allowed margin for error. I’ve surrounded myself with people who give grace and forgiveness, and who believe in me. When I fail, I’m going to fail fast, fail up, and fail cheap.

I’ve owned my mistakes. I’ve apologized. I won’t make the same mistake twice.

I’m staying connected to my local church and will serve her in whichever way best serves the leadership. She’s the bride of Christ. I need these people in my life.

I’ve learned this: every time God calls us TO something, He also calls us to leave something. It happens every day. You leave your house to go to work. You leave work to go home. You leave. You go.

Are you ready to jump?

You CAN do it…but will you?

It begins by trusting. And saying yes.