By Kaylie Hodges
Terror filled his precious eyes, and I could see his hand trembling as he adamantly refused to loosen his grip on the side of the pool. I could practically see his heart beating under his lifejacket.
My body cut through the water as I reached him and whispered, “I think you’ll have more fun out here.”
He shook his head again.
This kid that climbs trees well about our roofline. The kid that took his own training wheels off his bike and took off. The same kid that always wants to go faster and higher.
He wasn’t about to let go his grip on the side of the pool with his feet planted firmly on the ground.
Weeks went by with his brothers and sisters splashing, jumping in the deep end, and begging daddy to send them flying. He stayed there. Fixed to the side of the shallow end.
Not Happening. He wasn’t going to un-attach himself from the side of the pool.
Being the oldest of five almost always put him in the leadership position. He pushes and he teaches. He encourages and (as oldest children all want to do) he corrects.
I guess that’s what finally got to him. When I glanced over one day, I saw his arms and legs pumping furiously towards me, his little nose stuck way up in the air to guard from the slightest hint of water.
He took a tiny risk. A few feet in the shallow end where his feet could still touch, that’s all.
By the end of that day he was doing flips off into the deep end.
I stood back in awe as I watched his one brave move multiply, and I wondered: is this what God meant when he said be strong and courageous? To take one gasping breath with our limbs flailing wildly towards Him?
I sometimes fear that if I am brave for God, he will send me into my worst nightmare just to push me to my limits, but that isn’t what God says, that’s what my fear says.
God says this: “Be brave enough to follow me.”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
When Joshua gave up His fear He claimed the promised land that his people had been dreaming of for hundreds of years. That is more fun than fear.
When Ruth gave up her fear she received the blessing of being a part of the line of Christ, and was used mightily by God. That is more fun than fear.
When Mary gave up her fear she got to be the first to hear that the good news of the Gospel would be, quite literally, delivered through her. That is definitely more fun than fear.
Setting aside our fear doesn’t mean walking boldly into our worst nightmare; it means with each tiny stumbling step forward, we are getting closer to him. We are closer to the fulfillment of the lives we were meant to lead.
That night as I climbed up in brave boy’s bed to pray for him, his eyes were glowing, and he heaved a sigh of complete exhilaration. “Mommy, it’s more fun to be not afraid.”
Is that what God is getting at?
Sure we’ll have to work harder. Sometimes it will be scary. But maybe, just maybe he wants us to know it’s more fun in the deep end. He has exhilarating callings for us. He has confidence beyond what we could have dreamed for ourselves. He has the complete joy of drawing nearer to him.
Word of the Day:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Prayer:
Lord, to today help us take a trembling step of faith. Remind us of Your goodness and the good things that await as we draw nearer to You. Bring me deeper still, and help me to shout for joy in Praise of You.
Terror filled his precious eyes, and I could see his hand trembling as he adamantly refused to loosen his grip on the side of the pool. I could practically see his heart beating under his lifejacket.
My body cut through the water as I reached him and whispered, “I think you’ll have more fun out here.”
He shook his head again.
This kid that climbs trees well about our roofline. The kid that took his own training wheels off his bike and took off. The same kid that always wants to go faster and higher.
He wasn’t about to let go his grip on the side of the pool with his feet planted firmly on the ground.
Weeks went by with his brothers and sisters splashing, jumping in the deep end, and begging daddy to send them flying. He stayed there. Fixed to the side of the shallow end.
Not Happening. He wasn’t going to un-attach himself from the side of the pool.
Being the oldest of five almost always put him in the leadership position. He pushes and he teaches. He encourages and (as oldest children all want to do) he corrects.
I guess that’s what finally got to him. When I glanced over one day, I saw his arms and legs pumping furiously towards me, his little nose stuck way up in the air to guard from the slightest hint of water.
He took a tiny risk. A few feet in the shallow end where his feet could still touch, that’s all.
By the end of that day he was doing flips off into the deep end.
I stood back in awe as I watched his one brave move multiply, and I wondered: is this what God meant when he said be strong and courageous? To take one gasping breath with our limbs flailing wildly towards Him?
I sometimes fear that if I am brave for God, he will send me into my worst nightmare just to push me to my limits, but that isn’t what God says, that’s what my fear says.
God says this: “Be brave enough to follow me.”
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
When Joshua gave up His fear He claimed the promised land that his people had been dreaming of for hundreds of years. That is more fun than fear.
When Ruth gave up her fear she received the blessing of being a part of the line of Christ, and was used mightily by God. That is more fun than fear.
When Mary gave up her fear she got to be the first to hear that the good news of the Gospel would be, quite literally, delivered through her. That is definitely more fun than fear.
Setting aside our fear doesn’t mean walking boldly into our worst nightmare; it means with each tiny stumbling step forward, we are getting closer to him. We are closer to the fulfillment of the lives we were meant to lead.
That night as I climbed up in brave boy’s bed to pray for him, his eyes were glowing, and he heaved a sigh of complete exhilaration. “Mommy, it’s more fun to be not afraid.”
Is that what God is getting at?
Sure we’ll have to work harder. Sometimes it will be scary. But maybe, just maybe he wants us to know it’s more fun in the deep end. He has exhilarating callings for us. He has confidence beyond what we could have dreamed for ourselves. He has the complete joy of drawing nearer to him.
Word of the Day:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
Prayer:
Lord, to today help us take a trembling step of faith. Remind us of Your goodness and the good things that await as we draw nearer to You. Bring me deeper still, and help me to shout for joy in Praise of You.
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