What If ‘Doing It Scared’ Is the Whole Point?
We’ve all been there: standing at the edge of a significant decision, waiting. Waiting for the perfect sign, for one more piece of evidence, for a greater degree of certainty before we commit to a new job, a relationship, or a leap of faith. We tell ourselves, "If only I knew for sure, then I would act." It’s a profoundly human instinct to seek security before we step into the unknown.
But what if the amount of evidence isn't the real problem? What if our quest for absolute certainty is actually the barrier holding us back? A 2,000-year-old story offers a surprising and timeless perspective on this struggle, suggesting that true faith has less to do with having all the answers and more to do with the courage to move forward without them.
The Ultimate Proof Is Never Enough for a Closed Heart
In the Gospel of Luke, there is a line that one pastor calls “perhaps the most ruthful joke in all of scripture.” The story imagines a rich man asking for someone to be sent back from the dead to warn his brothers, believing this ultimate proof would surely change their minds. The response is a stunning prophecy that has held true for two millennia: even the most undeniable miracle is not enough to convince a person who has decided not to believe.
This idea points directly to the resurrection of Jesus. For 2,000 years, the world has had a witness to the defeat of death itself, yet billions remain unconvinced. The issue, the story suggests, is not a lack of evidence. The word of scripture, the lives of the saints, the glory of God manifest in the world—none of it is sufficient if a person has decided to harden their heart. If a heart is closed, no amount of proof will pry it open.
"If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced, even if someone rises from the dead."
Faith Isn't Certainty, It's Saying "Yes"
In stark contrast to the rich man’s demand for more signs stands the story of Abraham. When God first called Abram, he had almost nothing to go on. This was a primordial moment in faith history. As the source sermon notes, this is “before Moses and Egypt, before Joseph and his 12 brothers... The only things that precede Abram are creation and the flood.” He had no established record of God's character to rely on when God appeared and made an “insane request”: Leave your family and all you've ever known and go to this land that you've never seen.
And what did Abraham do? He went. The Old Testament is filled with figures who, like Abraham, answered God's call and then proceeded to mess up, stumble in doubt, and get overcome by fear. It seems God places less value on whether we do things perfectly and more on whether we are willing to say “yes” in the first place—whether we choose to trust and take that initial step. Faith, it turns out, begins not with having all the answers, but with a simple, trusting "yes."
The Most Powerful Spiritual Advice Might Be: "Do It Scared"
While discussing a new venture with a friend, the sermon's author received a piece of simple, modern wisdom: "You know what they say, do it scared." This phrase brilliantly captures the practical application of these ancient lessons. It challenges our tendency to wait for comfort and security. It forced the speaker to ask a vulnerable question: “Was I resisting the new thing... because I was waiting for another sign for more evidence for a greater degree of certainty. And how much certainty would be enough?”
This is the rich man’s core problem. We're told he "feasted sumptuously every day," and in that comfort, he was unwilling to act. It’s a deeply human pattern. We “throw up barriers and we cling to our comfort... and hum our own tunes to shut out the searing glory of God.” We wait for a degree of certainty that will never come, because we are unwilling to do the one thing faith requires: act in the face of fear.
God's Actual Promise Isn't Comfort—It's Something Better
One of the most profound misconceptions about a life of faith is that it will be comfortable, peaceful, or easy. The sermon directly dismantles this idea, clarifying what God does and does not promise.
God does not promise a comfortable life where we feast every day. He does not promise a peaceful death, a harmonious family, or even stimulating work. These are comforts we may desire, but they are not the guarantee of faith.
What God does promise is something far more resilient and profound: His presence. But this is not a passive presence. It is the promise to be your companion in life and in death. It is the promise of an anchor and presence in your life that can transform your vision and change your heart. He promises to be "right next to you," whether you are walking "in the valley of the shadow of death" or resting "in a green pasture." The promise isn't the absence of fear; it is the presence of a companion who will walk with you through all of it.
Stepping Out From Here
The journey from doubt to faith isn't about accumulating more evidence until all our fears are gone. It's about recognizing that we likely have all the evidence we will ever get. True faith is the courage to trust what we have been given and to act in spite of the uncertainty and fear that are natural parts of the human experience. It is the willingness to say "yes" and step out into the unknown.
The call, then and now, is the same: "Step out with me. Do it scared." So, the final question is for you. What is the one thing you're waiting for more certainty on, and what would it look like to simply take the first step, even while scared?
