These words by Paul David Tripp describe the way of brave faith decisions.

“As you look back over your life, with all its twists and turns and highs and lows, you can be sure of one thing: you never could have written your own story.” 

“…But something else is equally true. You have not been passive. You have made countless mundane and dramatic decisions along the way, each one contributing to who you are, where you are, who you are with, and what you do.

“You would not be where you are today if you had made different decisions. Each choice was formative. Every decision contributed to the shape, content, and direction of your life. You were desiring, thinking, meditating, choosing, conversing, and acting all along the way. Nothing about your journey has been robotic.” –Paul Tripp, email April 2, 2025

This describes what a brave faith looks like. No wonder too many people opt for a smaller safer faith.
Faith always asks more of us than what feels comfortable. This is the way of Jesus. His teachings were intentionally uncomfortable.

Yes, I have experienced some smashed heart seasons, the kind you can’t get out of bed from. This I have also learned. At the end of Job’s disaster, he said, I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. Job 42:5. Pain does have a way of showing us God in all truth. This is why pain is our beginning. I will never be able to unsee God’s faithfulness to me each daring time I put myself out there. I know God is beautiful.