Do you ever catch yourself wondering if there is more? I know I have found myself there at times.

It is almost as if you are on the bank of a river, looking across, curious about what might be on the other side. Every so often, something catches your eye but it remains fuzzy in the distance. Though you can’t make it out, there is something about it that resonates with you deep within. For a minute, you consider pursuing it, but then you look down at the rushing river, and decide it is too risky. You return to your “normal, safe life”, rationalizing away what you saw and your ability to reach it.

But, what if you could?

The 2-year anniversary of the release of my book, Hope Realized, just passed. Had you asked me fifteen years ago if I would write a book about bringing hope to others born out my time living and working in Nicaragua, I would have thought you were crazy. At the same time, now with the ability to reflect back, I may have seen a glimpse of it in the distance. Not necessarily of a book or even living and working in Nicaragua, but of something more. I found myself restless, but comfortable. It is okay to be comfortable, but sometimes a restless feeling is a sign that is time to move and grow. It may be God saying, “I have more for you.” The question is, are we willing to step into the river to pursue it?

Fifteen years ago, I decided to take a step in to see where it led. The journey has been full of ups and downs, but I can confidently say there is more if we are willing to trust God enough to take a step. You see, our role is to take a step and put ourselves in a position to allow God to grow us. God’s role is to lead us through the river, growing us into the person he created us to be.

Does this always mean your life gets turned upside down as you move to a distant land? Not at all! It looks different for everyone. It could be becoming the parent or spouse God created you to be. Maybe it means becoming a catalyst for hope and change in your local community. The key is trusting God enough to take a step toward the full life for which he designed you. It is a lifelong pursuit in many ways, but it is more than worth it.

Will the journey be hard? My experience says yes. Will there be setbacks and challenges along the way? You can count on it. The key is coming to a place where you decide the risk of not trying is a greater tragedy than the risk of the journey.

Stepping in does not mean complete clarity on what you will find on the other side of the river. I am still discovering the more that God has for my life. This is part of what makes it so beautiful. As you put yourself in a position for God to grow you, he continually reveals more opportunities for you to grow. To say it another way, God shows you more of who He created you to be. It’s as if he is saying, “I am not done with you yet.” I am certainly glad that is the case! Healthy things grow and I want that to be true of me.

In many ways, this is where my passion for hope and its ability to create change began. Believing that the God who created you sees you and has a desire for you to grow into the person he created you to be is a picture of hope. Realizing that there is hope for me reshaped the way I saw others and the challenges they face. What if they moved from believing they were created for a “life of less than” to knowing they were created on purpose for a purpose by a God who loves them? What if they had the opportunity to live out of that new perspective on life? Real hope has the power to rewrite stories.

How about your story? Could there be something more for you? It might not be something “big” as many would define it, but it could be something life-changing if you are willing to step into the river and pursue it. The risk of the journey is worth it, but it starts with a step.

James Belt

Click here​ for more resources to help you bring hope to others!