With a faithful God, it’s worth the risk to step boldly into new seasons

Written by Isaiah Tan

Graduating from university and moving on from my time with P2C-Students was a challenge.  Being involved in a campus ministry provided a structure that catalyzed my learning in loving the Lord, embracing bold discipleship, and living in a vulnerable, intimate, and Christian community. 

Graduation meant stepping into a new season that was devoid of structure and support, and it tested all the Lord had taught me.  

Slowly I built new structures to help me live with God on mission. I started leading a small group at my church, living in a MoveIn patch in Toronto, volunteering in the community, and took part in various mentorship relationships.

However, although I have new opportunities, the risks have not been eliminated. Every new season and adventure means new leaps of faith that could end in painful falls. 

But the beauty of steps of faith is that you get to taste and see that God is always faithful. Each opportunity and nervous attempt will always be met with God’s goodness and constant presence. 

Read more: Through unexpected jobs, God is providing and directing me on a good path

Going at God’s speed

I’m learning that being on mission requires going at God’s speed, which often involves a lot of waiting, stumbling, and starting again. At other times, it means picking myself up and running hard to wherever God is moving. But the key is to always have open eyes, open ears, and an open heart, and let God blow my expectations out of the waters.

For every gospel conversation with co-workers and roommates that went nowhere, invariably, another co-worker or friend would be stirred by the Spirit to desire deeper friendship and honest conversation. 

For each moment when relying on my local church felt unsafe, the Lord would surface a brother to pick me up and push me forward. 

For each conversation about spirituality in my parent’s home that was met with resistance, God would still illuminate truths and create deeper intimacy within my family. 

Each time my attempt to bless a neighbour revealed a deficiency in my abilities, the Lord of the harvest would bring along a co-labourer to supplement my gaps. 

The trend holds: every time I step out and risk failure, our Father proves himself faithful to me, no matter what happens.

Read more: Encouragement for when your step of faith gets the cold shoulder

Walking with patience

It’s still a daily lesson to walk in step (every single minute!) with the Lord. 

To love my neighbours, but at God’s pace and timing. 

To water and wait for the flourishing of Christian community, which God will bring forth when the time is ripe. 

To prayerfully wait for the right word to give to the right person. 

To seek and wait for the right mentor. To keep my eyes and ears open for the right mentee. 

Read more: 5 things waiting on God taught me

So I try to start each day with fresh expectations of what it will look like to walk with God. He may ask that I take a new bold step, or he may ask me to sit still and wait. But if each moment is in stride with him, the best the Father has will be given to me. 

After all, our faithful God never fails.

Isaiah is from Singapore and currently lives in Toronto. He graduated from the University of Toronto from computer engineering. He loves being on his feet: spending 90% of his work day at his standing desk, training to run his first marathon, and hiking up a mountain once every year.