“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5

Have you ever really thought about the phrase, “Just pull the ripcord.”

A ripcord exists for emergencies. It’s the backup plan. The escape route. The thing you hope you never have to use but keep close just in case. It represents the belief that if this doesn’t work, I still have another way out.

And while that mindset may make perfect sense when skydiving…I’ve begun to think that it’s one of the greatest obstacles to living a life of radical faith. Because the Kingdom of God was never built on backup plans. It was built on surrender.

The Problem with Keeping a Ripcord

We often tell ourselves we’re trusting God. We pray. We read Scripture. We ask Him to open doors. But quietly—almost subconsciously—we keep our hand hovering over the ripcord.

“If God doesn’t provide, I’ll figure it out.”

“If this ministry fails, I’ll just go back to what feels safe.”

“If He doesn’t come through, I’ll rely on my savings.”

“If this relationship doesn’t work, I’ll just take control.”

“If God doesn’t answer soon enough, I’ll make something happen myself.”

We don’t always say these things out loud. Often times we don’t even think them to ourselves. But our actions reveal where our trust truly lies. Faith and contingency plans rarely coexist peacefully.

One says, “God is enough.” The other whispers, “Just in case He isn’t…” And that is a hard pill to swallow.

The Boats We Refuse to Leave

Following Jesus has always required leaving something behind. Abraham left his homeland without knowing where he was going.

“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going.”
— Hebrews 11:8

Peter stepped out of the boat before he knew what walking on water felt like.

The disciples left their nets immediately.

Elisha burned the plow.

“So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant.”
— 1 Kings 19:21

None of them packed a backup plan. None of them said, “Lord, I’ll follow You… but let me keep this safety net just in case.”

Because eventually there comes a point where faith demands that we stop standing with one foot in obedience and the other planted firmly in self-reliance.

Israel Wanted Egypt as Their Backup Plan

One of the saddest patterns throughout Scripture is Israel’s constant desire to return to Egypt. Even after God split the Red Sea. Even after manna fell from heaven. Even after His presence literally led them by cloud and fire. When things became difficult, they immediately longed for the familiar.

Not because Egypt was good. But because it felt predictable. How often do we do the same?

God begins leading us into something unfamiliar. Our finances get tight. The answers don’t come as quickly as we’d hoped. The waiting becomes uncomfortable. And suddenly we start eyeing Egypt again. We start rebuilding the very thing God called us to leave.

Faith Means There Is No Plan B

One of my favorite stories in Scripture is found in Daniel. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stand before King Nebuchadnezzar knowing they are about to be thrown into the fiery furnace.

I recently was rereading this passage and The Lord revealed something that I’ve never thought about before. Read carefully what they say:

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.”
— Daniel 3:17–18

Notice something incredible. They explicitly state that God is able to save them, but fully acknowledge that this might not be the plan The Lord has for them. They weren’t trusting in an outcome. They were trusting in God. There was no escape strategy.

No negotiation. No compromise. No ripcord.

Whether God rescued them physically or welcomed them home eternally, their faith remained the same. That is what unwavering trust looks like.

Jesus Never Carried a Backup Plan

The Garden of Gethsemane may be one of the clearest pictures of complete surrender. Jesus knew exactly what lay ahead. The betrayal. The cross. The suffering. He prayed honestly.

“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
— Luke 22:42

He didn’t ask for an alternate mission. He didn’t begin drafting Plan B. He surrendered completely to the Father’s will. That’s what severing the ripcord looks like.

Why We Keep Holding On

If I’m honest, I keep backup plans because they make me feel in control. Control feels safe. Predictable. Responsible.

But often what I call wisdom is actually fear wearing respectable clothes.

We’re afraid God won’t provide. We’re afraid we’ll look foolish. We’re afraid we’ll fail. We’re afraid we’ll suffer. We’re afraid He’ll ask more than we’re willing to give.

Yet over and over Scripture tells us:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline”
— 2 Timothy 1:7

And again:

“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
— 1 Peter 5:7

God never asked us to try and control tomorrow. He asked us to trust Him today.

What If Failure Isn’t Actually Failure?

One reason we cling to our ripcord is because we’re terrified of failing. But what if we’ve misunderstood failure altogether?

Romans 8:28 reminds us:

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

Not some things. All things. Every disappointment. Every delay. Every closed door. Every painful detour. God wastes nothing.

If He is sovereign—and He is—then even what the world calls failure becomes part of His redemption story. You cannot ultimately fail when your life is surrendered to the One who holds eternity.

The outcome may not resemble your plan. But it will always accomplish His purpose.

Severing the Ripcord

This isn’t about recklessness. It’s about allegiance. It’s about asking ourselves difficult questions.

Am I trusting God…or my bank account? Do I trust The Creator of the Universe…or my career? Do I trust my Heavenly Father…or my relationships? Do I trust my Redeemer…or my talents? Do I trust Jesus…or my carefully constructed contingency plans?

Jesus said,

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
— Matthew 6:33

Seek first. Not second. Not after every backup option has been exhausted. First.

Sometimes the greatest act of faith isn’t stepping forward. It’s cutting the cord behind you. It’s deciding there is no life worth returning to outside of Christ.

No Egypt. No Plan B. No emergency exit. Only Jesus.

The Ripcord Has Already Been Replaced

The beautiful truth of the Gospel is this, the Christian life doesn’t require a backup plan because our security isn’t found in our ability to hold on. It’s found in Christ’s ability to hold us.

Jesus said,

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me”
— John 10:27–28

Our confidence is not that we’ll never encounter storms. It’s that the One who calms the storms walks with us through every one of them.

Our parachute isn’t our own preparation. It’s His faithfulness. And His faithfulness has never failed.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
— Lamentations 3:22-23

Sever the ripcord. Stop living as though you need an emergency exit from the very calling God has placed before you. Stop preparing for failure when the Author of victory has already gone before you. Stop clinging to the illusion of control and start clinging to the One who holds all things together.

Keep fighting for truth, even when the lies seem louder. Keep choosing faith, even when fear feels more reasonable. Keep taking the next step of obedience, even when you can’t see the entire path. Trust isn’t proven when everything makes sense—it is proven when you continue to walk even when it doesn’t.

The enemy wants you to believe that you need a backup plan because God might not come through. But Scripture tells a different story. The God who parted the Red Sea, shut the mouths of lions, fed Elijah by ravens, multiplied loaves and fish, conquered the grave, and raised Christ from the dead has not changed. His character is still faithful. His promises are still true. His presence is still enough.

So cut the cord. Burn the boats. Leave Egypt behind. Fix your eyes on Jesus and don’t look back.

Because when Christ is leading, you don’t need an escape plan, you need steadfast faith. And even if the road ahead is uncertain, you can walk it with confidence, knowing that the One who called you is faithful, and He will surely do it.

“God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:24

So keep fighting. Keep trusting. Keep believing. Keep surrendering. And when you’re tempted to reach for the ripcord, remember this.

The safest place you will ever be is in the center of God’s will, even when it feels like you’re free falling.