“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Remember your leaders,
who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome
of their way of life and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today
and forever.
Hebrews 13: 5-8
Have you ever stopped long enough to list the things you’ve worked hard to accomplish?
If you’re like me, encouraging others may come easier than applauding your own efforts.
As a teacher, parent, and Grammy one of my greatest joys has been watching the kiddos master important milestones along the way as they discover new skills. A while back, I cheered on my eldest grandson as he skillfully walloped a hockey puck into the net to score a goal and praised my younger “grands” as they sang their ABC’s. I also marveled at my granddaughters; one proudly performed in a cello concert, and another so gracefully placed in a state gymnastic competition. Soaking in knowledge like a sponge, and building on their unique God-given talents, here all five of them took center stage.
When we believe, we achieve. Each and everyone of us has the ability to amaze ourselves. We reach for the stars and feel as though we can fly. The reality is, though, that not everything in life we attempt comes naturally. We don’t always have the self-confidence, the tools, or persistence to get it right. Negative messaging and well-meaning cynics point out what we aren’t doing correctly, and so often, we get stubborn and refuse to take a leap of faith to jump right in.
An example of not being able to plunge right in comes from my childhood experience of being paralyzed in fear at the town pool. I was in the second grade. The swim instructor kept insisting that I dive into the deep end of the pool where I had belly flopped one too many times. With all my peers looking on, I knew I lacked the self-esteem and skills I needed. Truth be told, I felt humiliated. It was easier to give up, and so I did. Does any part of this scenario sound familiar?
Needless to say, I never made it past Advanced Beginners in swimming class, and to this day, I avoid the deep end of a pool. It has taken me a while to figure out that when I move beyond my comfort zone, I just might have the ability to amaze myself. When I do, I just might find what God has had ready for me all along. Always cheering me on, I discover how deep and wide God’s love really is.
Jesus doesn’t care how many times I belly flop. My complete and painful embarrassing failures here on planet Earth are not recorded at the gateway to Heaven. God knows. I’m human. For it is He who walked on water, and He and He alone who comes to my aide.
Swimming ahead I am open to divine instruction. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, He encourages, heals, and empowers me to face every mountain as I climb the high dives in my life. I plunge forward, encouraged, and inspired to float towards my goals.
Faith may not make all things easy, but it does make all things possible.
Remember, sweet friend, when you walk with Jesus, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31: 8).
He will always be cheering you on.
Let’s pray.
Loving Lord,
Thank you for catching me when I fall. May I feel your reassuring presence to get back up and keep on going even when it’s hard to do. When others miss the mark, help me patiently and lovingly motivate them to reach their goals.
Trusting in your faithfulness, I stand tall and walk with encouragement as I jump start my day to live out the Gospel message, for I know that you and you alone feed my soul. May all that I do be for your glory. I ask this in your name.
Amen.
Until next time…
May the Spirit of God lead you, the Word of God sustain you, and the promises of God grant you the gift of everlasting peace.
With love and blessings...
Thank you for being such a special part of the Faith First Women community. To share your experiences, praises, or prayer requests email sue@faithfirstwomen.com and you will hear from me soon.
Reflection questions and journaling prompts are:
-What lesson did you learn from your belly flop moment?
-Do you ever feel that you are swimming against the tide? Recall an example.
-Enter your sacred space. Close your eyes and envision where, with a simple leap of faith, God is calling you to be. Draw and write about it.
Join us on Instagram at https://instagram.faithfirstwomen.com or follow us on Facebook at https://facebook.com/FaithFirstWomen for additional inspiration throughout the week.
A portion of this reflection was first published in Nourish Your Soul: 7 Secrets for Women Seeking Peace https://amzn.to/3xuddZw
***
Pick up your free “20 Inspirational Quotes to Guide Your Day” here: https://www.faithfirstwomen.com/20-inspirational-quotes
***
Sue Dick, Author of Nourish Your Soul: 7 Secrets for Women Seeking Peace
You may view our Privacy Policy here
For questions or inquiries please email sue@faithfirstwomen.com
Comments