Have you ever seen or had one of those parenting moments where the child gets a simple instruction and they react as if you just asked them to climb Mount Everest?
Maybe you’ve seen a parent ask a kid to put their shoes on. A simple request, right? Instead of just obeying, the parent is asked, "Why? Where are we going? Do I need my big shoes or my little shoes? Can I bring my toys? Are we going to eat? Will there be snacks?" Before an answer is given, the child is halfway into a full-blown strategic planning session.
I think about how often we do the same thing with God. He gives us simple instructions — love our neighbor, forgive someone, take a step of faith — and instead of obeying, we start interrogating. ("Why? Where will this lead? What if this thing happens?") But what God wants from us is what most parents want from their children: simple obedience.
When we think of radical faith, we often imagine something dramatic. Missionaries moving to remote jungles, people selling everything they own, or fiery preachers performing miracles. But what if radical faith isn’t always about doing something big but about trusting God in the small?
A perfect example of this is Abram in Genesis 12:1-4:
"The Lord said to Abram: ‘Go from your land, your relatives, and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, I will bless you, I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.’ ... So Abram went, as the Lord had told him, and Lot went with him."
Abram’s story is often seen as a radical faith moment; God called him to leave everything and go to an unknown place. And yes, that is a huge step of faith. But what’s remarkable is not just the size of the calling but the simplicity of the response: "So Abram went."
No debate. No questioning. No demand for a detailed itinerary. God said, "Go," and Abram went. Faith is proven in small obedience.
I don’t need my son to take a giant leap of faith every day to prove he trusts me. I don’t need him to throw himself into the deep end or climb on top of the fridge to show he believes in my parenting skills. I just need him to listen, to trust my voice in the small things, such as putting on his shoes when I ask. God desires the same from us. Radical faith isn’t always about jumping out of a boat to walk on water like Peter. More often, it looks like:
- Forgiving someone who hurt you.
- Saying yes to serving in a way that stretches you.
- Trusting God when He says “wait” instead of rushing ahead.
- Showing kindness when no one else does.
The real test of faith isn’t just in the big moments; it’s in the daily obedience to God’s voice.
Have you ever noticed how we sometimes make obedience way more complicated than it needs to be? God says, "Trust me with your finances," and we say, "But let me check my budget five more times and stress about it first." God says, "Be kind to that coworker," and we respond, "But Lord, do you KNOW how annoying they are?" God says, "Step into this new opportunity,” and we ask, "Can I get a contract and a five-year plan first?" But Abram’s story teaches us that radical faith is simple. God said go, and Abram went.
Jesus modeled this kind of faith as well. In John 14:31, He says, "I do exactly what the Father has commanded me." He didn’t need extra details; He just trusted His Father’s plan. What is God calling you to do right now that seems small? Maybe it’s forgiving someone, stepping out to lead, serving in a new way, or trusting Him with a difficult situation.
You don’t need all the details. You don’t need a 10-step roadmap. You just need to put on your shoes and go. Radical faith isn’t about knowing everything; it's about trusting the One who does.