I interview some amazing women on my podcast. Today wasn’t any different. Listening to their journey not only inspires me but provides so much food for thought. All four guests each shared details about the trials and triumphs they’ve experienced but the one thing they all had in common was that they had to take some risks.
All of them had struggles that included illness, childhood traumas, ignoring naysayers, experiencing the loss of relationships, and even losing material wealth. They risked relationships in order to have peace and sanity. They risked traditional career paths to pursue their passion.
They risked the possibility of criticism, isolation, and acceptance to follow their calling. The call for something greater was more important than any of those circumstances.
I noticed several commonalities that existed with my guests:
- The past was not allowed to dictate their present and destroy their future.
- Recognizing the role of trau- ma is critical but doing the work is imperative to heal so that they could operate in wholeness.
- Seeing the power of God and God’s hand in everything is not only a must but a mindset.
- Problems were lessons that served as a foundation for their future.
- Being open to the possi- bilities and knowing that change is inevitable is a necessity for success.
- Joy, Peace, and Humor are companions that you can’t live without, and Boundar- ies will be your best friend.
- In everything you do, count the cost.
With a new year upon us, many people are making plans about what they want to do dif- ferently in their personal and professional lives. In anything that we consider, it’s import- ant to have a plan but it’s paramount to pay attention to the risks. You need to analyze the pros and cons. You must count the cost.
In Luke 25-33 (MSG), Jesus shares that even following him is a risk that you must be aware of: “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of mon- ey, you’re going to look pretty foolish.
Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.” For many of us, we assume that when we become a Christian that life will get easier and/or better. That’s not always the case. One of my guests stated that she lost everything to gain something so much greater.
There are costs to everything even our faith. Are you willing to give up and let go of bad ways of thinking, toxic relationships, or dead-end jobs to trust God for something greater?
I hope that as you make plans for your possibilities that you don’t exclude God. Always examine the pros and cons-count the cost. Be willing to take the risk. As I tell my daughter often, be willing to bet on you. You are worth the risk to embody the greatness that God has placed within you.
Dr. Froswa’ Booker-Drew is the host of the Tapestry Podcast and the author of three books for women. She is also the Vice President of Community Affairs for the State Fair of Texas. To learn more, visit drfroswa.com.
