Whether you are a fan of Disney movies or not, it’s almost impossible to be unfamiliar with Frozen (even at a surface level). In the second film, there is a song called Into the Unknown, sung by Idina Menzel as one of the main characters. It speaks of things being comfortable at home, but a curious force is calling her to venture away from the known to a new experience. Even as she tries to ignore and suppress that call, she is ultimately compelled to risk everything and go for it. She faces many hardships but ends up discovering the truth which brings peace and power. This reminds me of times that God called people from the comfortable and/or known to set out on a new path and discover something greater.

Abraham (Genesis 11-25) – Abram was born in Ur of the Chaldeans and moved with his father’s house to Haran. It was there that the Lord called to him to start a new adventure – to move and become the father of a great nation. He could have ignored that promise and stayed with his father and lived a ‘normal’ life. However, he chose to listen to the promise and moved with his wife, nephew and their possessions. Upon arriving in Shechem, they could have stopped and made a life for themselves with the Canaanites, but again, the Lord called for him to move along, saying his offspring would inherit the land. So, they continued on, still childless, with the hopes and dreams of the promises spoken (which were respoken through the years). After many struggles and victories and failures and years, Abraham died, yet as promised, his descendants live on today, not only by lineage, but by spirit (Galatians 3).

Disciples (Gospels) – Several of the original disciples called were occupational fishermen, with two being very successful. Another was a wealthy tax collector and yet another, a zealot. These were all people who were established in their lives and weren’t necessarily looking to branch out into something new. When Jesus came and said, “Follow me,” all of that changed. They were starting the greatest adventure of their life. Again, there would be ups and downs, victories and defeats, but through it all, their lives and ours were changed because they chose to leave the everyday and follow the unknown.

Rahab (Joshua 2) – A harlot, living in a wicked city was doing well for herself to the point she owned her own place. She could live on her earnings and provide for her family like any business-minded person would. Then, she hears about the Lord and the miracles He has done for the people in the wilderness that are coming her way. She has to decide, stay with what she knows, or risk everything to help the spies that show up at her door. She helps them escape and she and her family survive when the city is destroyed. Not only did she survive, but married into the community and became a direct ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ. All of our lives have been impacted by her decision to reject the easy and choose a better way.

God will many times call us into the unknown and we have to decide whether to follow or not. There will be ups and downs as it’s through the fires that we can purified, through the pastures that we can rest and be fed, and through the valley of the shadow of death where He is still in control (Psalm 23, 1 John 1:9). We might lose a job, lose or gain a family member, or go through seemingly immense hardship. However, if the Good Shepherd is leading us, we can know that it will be okay as it’s for our benefit and will lead to His glory. After all, He is the one who designed our path before the world was even formed (Job 38-39). While comfortable is nice, let’s be willing to impact the future by following God into the unknown!