“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” – Proverbs 3:5-6
This Scripture in Proverbs is one of my favorites… Like many people, I’ve read it, reflected on it, and thought I understood it. I really did. Until recently, when God lovingly stripped away my illusions…
Let me share something profound that’s transforming my entire understanding of faith.
I had left a secure financial position, proudly telling everyone I was “stepping out in faith.” My heart was sincere, but my actions? Well, that’s where this story gets interesting – and maybe a bit convicting.
Like those Isaiah warned about who “relied on horses and trusted in chariots” (Isaiah 31:1), I had my own modern-day backup cavalry: retirement plans, financial safety nets, carefully crafted contingency plans. I thought I was being wise. Responsible. Strategic.
Then, in one breath-taking moment, everything changed. Every safety net? Gone. Every backup plan? Shattered. Every security blanket? Stripped away.
But here’s where the beauty begins…
In the midst of what felt like chaos, I discovered something magnificent. Like Peter stepping out of that boat (Matthew 14:29), I found myself in a position where there was nothing – absolutely nothing – between me and God’s faithfulness.
You see, I had been living what I now call “safety net spirituality.” Like Abraham being called to leave his homeland, I thought I was following God’s call. But unlike Abraham who “went, as the LORD had told him” (Genesis 12:4), I had been hedging my bets.
And now? Now I’m experiencing what real faith feels like. Not the comfortable, padded faith I had before, but the kind that makes your heart race and your spirit soar. The kind that actually gives God room to show up in spectacular ways.
This isn’t just about losing backup plans – it’s about gaining something far more precious: authentic trust in a faithful God. It’s about discovering that when Jesus said “No one can serve two masters” (Matthew 6:24), He was offering us freedom, not restriction.
You want to know the most amazing part? As each safety net has fallen away, I’ve found something solid underneath – not the shifting sands of my own planning, but the unshakeable foundation of God’s faithfulness.
I’m learning that true faith isn’t the absence of fear – it’s the presence of trust even when fear is screaming in your ear. It’s not about being reckless; it’s about being real with God and ourselves about where we’re placing our trust.
And here’s what I want to share with you: There’s an indescribable peace that comes when you finally stop trying to be your own backup plan. When you realize that maybe, just maybe, God allowed your safety nets to fall so you could experience His catching arms.
This journey isn’t over. Every day brings new opportunities to choose trust over safety, faith over fear. But now I know – really know – what it means to trust with ALL my heart, not just the parts that don’t have a backup plan.
So I ask you, friend: What safety nets are you clinging to? What would it look like to trust God so completely that you don’t need Plan B?
But here’s the real question that’s been haunting me – the one that changed everything:
Is faith really faith if you’re always developing a backup plan?
After everything I’ve experienced, after watching every safety net dissolve and finding God’s faithfulness even stronger underneath, I can tell you with absolute certainty – no, it’s not.
Real faith, the kind that moves mountains and transforms lives, doesn’t need a Plan B. Because genuine faith understands that God’s Plan A is greater than all our backup plans combined.
So maybe it’s time to let go of those safety nets. Not because it’s easy, but because it’s freeing. Because true faith isn’t faith until it’s all we’re holding onto.
And trust me – when you finally release those backup plans, you’ll discover what I’m learning every day: God is far more faithful than any safety net we could ever design.
