Preparing to Live in an RV Full Time Feels Risky
Can you follow God without taking risks?
A recent text conversation with my sister went something like this:
My sister: Have you ever heard of this ministry? (includes link)
Me: There you go! Are you going to do it?
Sister: I have a lot of questions. I will pray and do my research.
Me: Timing is everything!
Sister: It can be but it’s a lot to think about.
Me: Well, you’ve always felt like your call to ministry didn’t get fulfilled, you are retired, you have the camper…[it’s a ministry for campers who travel the United States]
Sister: Too small, need bigger camper and bigger truck…
Me: What about a motor home?
Sister: What if that breaks down?
Me: (sensing this could go on forever) You can’t do anything without some risk…
Of course, I am talking to myself as much as I am trying to encourage my sister to step out in faith. My husband and I are in the process of purchasing a camper to live in full-time. With my remote work and my husband still recovering from long Covid, we decided to take a risk and do something we’ve always wanted to do.
It’s not without risk and a lot of planning. Where do we get our mail? How do we pay taxes? What about doctors? What if something breaks? What if someone gets sick? What if…what if…what if…
I learned a long time ago that you can What If yourself to death (or inactivity) and never take the steps in life that you’re meant to take.
My sister knows all this but fantasizing and daydreaming about being bold for God or living life on your own terms is one thing. Making the plans and actually doing it is another.
My sister has had some curveballs thrown her way and she knows what life feels like living on the edge. Circumstances she would never have chosen for herself forced her to live life one step at a time, always relying on God for the next provision.
Once one has been through life like that one of two things tends to happen:
A. You understand that the reality of God is a life without lack and fully learn to trust Him, not worrying about tomorrow, and living the freedom of tossing your cares fully on Him.
B. You become protective and work as hard as you can to reduce any amount of risk in life.
I think you can see where my sister falls on this continuum. Maybe you share her aversion to risk?
Get busy living or get busy dying
Still, I know her heart and she loves God. She’s the one who introduced me to the Savior who has forever altered the course of my life. She’s passionate about being in His will and many years ago thought her life was on course for serving in full-time ministry.
Some church abuse and unfortunate circumstances curtailed those efforts, and she and her husband have been gun shy ever since. I can’t say I blame them after what transpired, but the calling of God is not revocable and even when His plans are thwarted, He always finds a way — if we are willing.
“The reason so many people stay stuck in a rut of perpetual not knowing what to do-ness is because they are scared of letting their imaginations run wild and dreaming of all the possibilities. They are burdened with the questions of ‘How will it ever happen?’ instead of basking in the magic and excitement of what could be possible for them.” — Noor Hibbert
The day after the text exchange with my sister, I found this message on social media and sent it to her. (This quote is attributed to several motivational speakers including Zig Ziglar and Tony Robbins — I am not sure who originally said it.)
Her response: I just want to know that I know.
To which I immediately recalled other quotes and scripture that reminded us we never really know that we know. We can only be as sure as our next step in obedience.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. (Psalm 119:105, NIV)
When we’re taking a journey that we’ve never taken before we don’t know the full itinerary.
When we only have a lamp to light our path we can only see the next step.
That is by design. It wouldn’t be an act of trust if we saw the entire path and could plan for every misstep or extenuating circumstance.
But it’s human nature to want to know. We’re not alone in this. Even the spiritual giants who made it into Paul’s Hall of Faith wanted to know more than just the next step.
The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. (Hebrews 11:1–2, MSG)
Text messaging with God
Moses: Okay, God, but I want to make sure you have texted the right person. Do you want me, the one who stutters and ran from Egypt, to go back there and bring your people out of bondage into freedom?
God: Yes, I’ve got the right number. It’s you that I want.
Noah: Um…sure God, I am happy to build this, uh, ark, but first let me confirm the dates and timeline.
God: You don’t need to know that now. Just get started gathering some wood. More info to follow…
Abraham: Is there a typo in this text, God? Go where? I didn’t catch the destination. Do you have a map I can download?
God: Pick up your tents and go. Trust me. You’ll love it.
We tend to think that the believers of old had a special connection to God that we don’t, that they had a stronger faith than we do. We tend to forget that they were people like us with families, homes, communities, friends, routines, and the steps they took in faith were just as scary as those we take every day.
As my husband and I plan our next risky adventure — full-time living in an RV — I keep my fears at bay by reminding myself that when I am in the hands of Jehovah-Jireh I can trust that He has already prepared whatever I need.
I steep myself in God-reality, God-provisions, and God-initiative as I reread the admonition from Jesus in Matthew 6:
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. (Matthew 6:33, MSG)
And I remind myself that risk is in my genes as I think about my orphaned grandfather, who spoke no English, leaving Italy to venture to America to make a better life for himself.
What’s your next risk — er, I mean adventure — with God?
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