A Risk I Am Willing To Take

Certainly, these risks were not calculated without prayer and outside wisdom, but they all meant risking losing something, a way of life, certain relationships, specific opportunities, or the favor of notables.

A short time ago if you had told me that I would be moving states for a church, I probably wouldn’t have believed you. I had been deeply wounded by a church in the past and finally found a safe place. Yet as unexpected as it was, that is exactly what my husband Will and I did!

It all started like this: I am a big fan of the author and speaker Sarah Bessey. Her book Jesus Feminist was the first that I read on Christian Feminism. When I learned that she was speaking just a few hours away in Raleigh, North Carolina I couldn’t resist going to hear her. She was amazing and my husband and I greatly enjoyed listening to her, but something else caught us off guard. We fell in love with the church she was speaking at!

We drove back home to Virginia, yet for some reason, we could not get this church out of our minds. We tried to resist the idea at first. After having such a good first experience we didn’t want to go back and risk being disappointed. It seemed safer to just keep the memory alive in our hearts, but something was drawing us back. Over the next year we made around 10-12 weekend trips just to be a part of this church community.

The only way I know how to explain it is like this, when I met my husband there were so many things that I loved about him but ultimately there was this unexplainable knowing that we were supposed to be together.

It felt like destiny. It felt like God.

And that’s the only way I know how to describe my relationship with this little Methodist church. Will and I just knew. We knew we were supposed to be there.

It didn’t make any sense. My husband had a successful business in Virginia and he could not take those clients with him. I had grown up in Virginia and had just found a safe church to begin healing in. On the other hand, it made all of the sense in the world. This was an opportunity to expand our thoughts, ideas, and experiences.

People have scoffed at some of the decisions, changes, and risks I’ve felt lead to make, or that Will and I as a couple have felt lead to make over the last few years.

And, it t seems I have become somewhat of a regular risk taker. Despite my desire for certainty, I’ve been drawn to decisions that have completely changed my life in big and small ways.

Certainly, these risks were not calculated without prayer and outside wisdom, but they all meant risking losing something, a way of life, certain relationships, specific opportunities, or the favor of notables.

But sometimes you have to be willing to risk everything to follow that still small voice. It isn’t easy but when you are tuned in with the Holy Spirit, it tends to work out better than you could have ever dreamed.

I don’t know how this move is going to turn out for us, but I believe in a God who speaks to us and sometimes asks us to do seemingly crazy things. Things that involve risk, hard work, trust, and the possibility of it not going according to plan. And I believe in a God who still moves mountains, makes miracles, orchestrates Divine encounters, and calls us to walk on water by faith.

When I have that gut feeling and that Holy Spirit knowing, experience tells me it is a risk worth taking.

Ashley Easter is a blogger, speaker, and abuse victim advocate. She promotes truth-seeking expeditions, advocates for gender equality, and educates the Church on abuse. She is the founder of The Courage Conference, an event that empowers survivors of abuse to continue to fight for their healing while also educating church leaders on prevention and proper response to abuse.

Blog: www.AshleyEaster.com Website: www.TheCourageConference.com Twitter: @ashleymeaster Facebook: /ashleymeaster