Last week, we rested. This week, we are going for it!
We all have probably heard the saying, “Go for it”. It usually means “take a chance” or “seize an opportunity”.
In my family when we play games, we encourage one another to “go for it” – take a chance. It is usually in the context of some kind of risk. For instance, going ‘all in’ in poker, or taking a critical peg out of the Jenga tower. I will admit that there may be ulterior motives involved in this prompting depending on which team you’re on, but it’s all in good fun. However, this is not the usage I really want to talk about.
I often need to encourage myself to “go for it”. When I face a situation that intimidates or scares me, I need encouragement to seize the opportunity. New experiences like a job interview, or speaking in front of a group, or even meeting someone for the first time could cause us to feel intimidated or afraid. So, what should we do? We should “go for it”!
It’s not uncommon for many of us to be apprehensive about new situations or new environments. The first time for anything can be intimidating because without previous experience to compare it to, we don’t know what to expect. But we don’t need to be intimidated because we always, always, always have God on our side! And He is always, always, always ready, willing, and able to help us in any and every situation! I hope that was stated emphatically enough. God is constantly seeking to take care of us. His help is not reserved just for our dire straits, although He really comes through at those times. He is an ever-present reality in EVERY situation – big or small.
I talked about God’s help first because quite frankly, I don’t know how to face challenges without it. The unknown that may be daunting to us, is known to God. The challenges that may seem overwhelming to us, are well within God’s abilities. Counting on His constant care certainly lifts the weight off our shoulders! However, we know that we are not marionettes to God. He is not pulling our strings to make us do things. It is up to us to take the necessary action and “go for it”. Then God is able to guide our steps and alleviate our fears according to our believing in Him. When challenges arise, we can always rely on God to have our backs.
This then emboldens us to “go for it”. We can seize the opportunities with which we are presented because the confidence we need is not limited to our abilities alone. That is not to say that we don’t have abilities, we all have wonderful strengths. But no matter how strong or smart or capable we are, God is more. God told King Jehoshaphat that the battle was not his, but God’s (2 Chronicles 20:15). Don’t you think that God feels the same way about our battles? And if you read the account of Jehoshaphat’s battle, the Israelites didn’t even have to fight, the enemies destroyed themselves. That’s how big God can deliver!
To “go for it” isn’t limited to just new challenges, we may have to encourage ourselves in the face of ongoing hardships, or day to day stresses. Somedays, it may take us “going for it” just to get out of bed. We almost always have to “go for it” when we are trying to change bad habits or improve our lifestyle. But God helps in these trials as well. He cares about the smallest details of our lives just as much as He cares about the biggest ones. He desires that His children prosper and be in health (3 John 2). God wants us to succeed in all of our endeavors. So what is there that we can’t “go for it” to do?
We may not win every time we “go for it”. For example, you didn’t get the job you interviewed for. You still succeeded in not being intimidated by the interview process. That’s a victory in itself. And maybe that was not the best job for you anyway. In this kind of situation, we must still trust that God is working for us. He sees the BIG picture that we cannot. So, if we didn’t win in a particular situation, why not think that God must have something better in store for us? Sometimes a situation like this might discourage us. But if that happens, we can regroup and “go for it” again. If we don’t quit, we won’t lose.
Every success builds confidence – and confidence enables us to “go for it”. When that confidence is fully infused with trusting God to supply, we can be unstoppable! Remembering that you and God make a majority in any situation is a surefire boost to our confidence! And whether we win when we “go for it” or it doesn’t turn out the way we wanted, God still never leaves us nor forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). So, no matter what you’re facing, why not “go for it” and see what God will do for you!
Note to my readers: Philippians 4:13 – “Go for it”! Thanks for reading!