Your body is filled with mixed feelings of fear, relief and regret all in one.
Furrowing your brow with determination you say, "No!" And you step forward again till your toes almost go over the edge a bit. A rock moves and tumbles below you. Hitting the bottom of ravine a deafening "click" on the bottom of the ravine.
Without thinking another thought your feet are off the edge, the feeling of soaring through the air nearly takes your breath away...the air fills your lungs like you've never felt for. Electricity pulses through your veins. What a rush. You looked fear in the face and you told it "NO." And you jumped.
The ropes of course caught you like they told you they would. It's hard to put your faith in something that is hardly visible. But as you found when you jumped, you were saved. Just as you were told you would be. Glancing back up from where you jumped from, you shoot your fist up in the sky as a victory cry escapes your lips...I'm not afraid you say.
There is only a step between faith and fear. One little step.
And almost every person comes to a place at least once in their life where they have to make a choice. "Will I jump?" SO what edge are you standing on today? Is there an impossible situation you've faced? Has someone asked you to do something you think is impossible? Have you faced a scene that seems done? A brick wall?
The other night as I sat in my own little storm, I felt the waves crashing everywhere. Threatening to tip my boat over. I felt the freezing cold water on my face, and I thought of all the possible things that could go wrong. The boat felt safe, but I knew that I couldn't stay in the boat forever.
"do you trust me?" I felt Him whisper over me...
"Yes Lord..." I whispered back.
I knew what He wanted me to do. I fought Him. For several nights I fought Him. I grabbed my fears back into my arms, stuffed them in my pockets and went back down below deck to try and sleep.
SO then the next night He met me again. The storm was even more violent than it was the night before. It really felt as though my little boat was going to sink. And then He called out to me again.."Do you trust me?"
My heart pounded. I knew this was moment of truth. With my heart pounding nearly out of my chest I looked at Jesus and nodded.
Smiling He looked at me with a hand extended to me from the sea, and said, "what are you waiting for then?"
It was then that my heart leaped from chest and I literally jumped out of the boat like a hunting dog leaping for his masters kill in the water. I leapt.
And do you know what? He caught me.
As I stayed there out in the unknown territory, what once felt so unsafe, now felt like the best place to be.
I knew I was right where He wanted me.
There is only one small step that stands in the gap between fear and faith.
Has God asked you to move? Has He asked you do something that your flesh is fighting? Our flesh wants to stay where it's comfortable and safe. God may not always be safe, but in the center of His flame is the safest place you can be.
"The fear of The Lord is the beginning of knowledge." Proverbs.
If the fear of The Lord, is the start, then I have spent the first half my life just getting ready to start.
I need not fear anything because God is the one who is in all, and by Him all things are held together.
HE works all things for the good of those who love Jesus and He is my blessed assurance.
He preserves me, and He is sustainer.
Have I anything to fear? No.
For He who is in me is greater than the one who is in the world.
If you are not assured by His presence, ask for His presence to be yours. If you are not comforted by Him being the only one you need to fear then ask Him to meet you at your point of fear. Ask Him to give you the courage through Him to step out, and leap through the air.
It may be only One step, but it's one step you cannot take in your own strength.
Every night I whisper prayers over my children to fill them with the peace of Him who holds them all night.."Fear not for I am with you..." -Jesus.
I'm in the center of His will, and it's not where I thought I'd find freedom, but jumping off my safety platform was the best (His best) I've ever experienced.
When you read the scriptures with this mindset, it makes them come alive. When your starting point is fearing Him only, there is nothing to make you fear, and HIS word will ignite in you what only He can. True life starts here.
No place I would rather be. But here in your love.
It's not safe, but it's perfect.
jump.
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