Called to the Wild
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The following article has been excerpted from Called to the Wild by Christopher Lawrence.
Then Caleb…said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”
- Numbers 13:30
The thunderous roar unnerved me as I surveyed the swirling mishmash of whitewater and waves. The more I looked, the more my fear intensified.
This would be my first descent of the Wild Mile, a continuous 1.25 miles of Class IV+ rapids on Montana’s Swan River. There was a good chance I would get hurt on the jagged rocks if I didn’t navigate precisely. I needed to trust everything I had learned about kayaking and apply it.
I scouted ahead of time to plan my course, especially the “Big Drop.” But sometimes kayakers can linger too long and psyche themselves out.
The same was true for the Israelites: the more they pondered conquering Canaan, the more terrified they became.
After sending 12 spies to the land, only two of them—Caleb and Joshua—gave a favorable report. The rest said the fight was hopeless.
Indeed, literal giants lived in the land—some said the descendants of Anak were up to eight feet tall. But the Israelites forgot the most important factor: the Lord had promised them this land.
This story reveals an important lesson: in the face of fear-inducing circumstances, God calls us to believe what he says and act in faith.
When God says he will do something, we would be wise to believe, even facing remote odds. We must see the unseen and persist in belief.
This is what Caleb and Joshua did. They weren’t just blustery blowhards, bent on bloodlust. Their confidence for conquest came from what God said and had already done.
Often, we’d rather stay in the eddies of life—the calm, predictable spots where the river seems in our control. Yet, we are called to the wild, to face the swirling waters, the breakers, hydraulics and pour overs. For in these terrifying places God teaches us to trust him.
God’s call is challenging, stretching the realm of what seems possible or prudent, and often points us right where we don’t want to go—into the heart of our fear.
God leads us to these wild places because he loves us. He knows that facing our fears and believing him will shape our faith and character, ultimately bringing us closer to him. And most importantly, when what he says comes true, his faithfulness and the reliability of his Word will be proven yet again.
When facing life’s whitewater, we always have the choice whether to trust him or not. We should turn our eyes on God—remembering his power and when he has helped us in the past. Looking to Christ, he gives us confidence to believe, because he is reliable. As 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, “The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.”
As I kayaked the Wild Mile, the day went far better than expected. I skirted the Big Drop, crashed through 8-foot waves and paddled through the Triple Sisters unscathed. It was terrifying yet exhilarating. As is the life of those who live by faith.
Question:
What wild is God calling you to trust him with?
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for being trustworthy. Forgive me for letting my fear control me. Please increase my faith and so I can trust you in whatever challenges I face. Amen.
From one Adventurer to Another
Called to the Wild is a 40-day journey filled with thrilling adventure stories and poignant Biblical meditations, through which outdoor guide and Cru campus minister, Chris Lawrence, helps readers overcome fear and self-doubt by learning to follow Jesus as their trustworthy Guide through life’s every adventure.
