Reach with your hands.
Now move your feet up.
I stood, feet planted wide, at the bottom of the slide, ready to play catcher, while my daughter coached her toddler up the ladder on the other side of the platform. At eighteen months, he’s reached that phase where he’s comfortable enough on his feet to run pretty much everywhere. The rungs of the ladder arch leading to the slide are spaced about a foot apart and he’s at full extension if he reaches for the next higher bar without moving his feet up first. It’s really too much of a climb for him but he loves it. Lately he doesn’t want hand holding or help. He’ll twist his little body away when you reach for him. He reminds my husband of his mom, who’s toddler catch phrase was “do by self!”
We’re conditioned to be cautious, aren’t we? As soon as a child becomes mobile, we babyproof in order to make things as safe as possible as baby gains independence. When she starts walking, we’re constantly shadowing her, saying be careful. When he begins to climb, we’re right there ready to catch him before he slips and falls. All of these precautions are good and right but risk and danger are inherent parts of the abundant life for which you and I are designed. Being content in uncertainty and desirous of adventure comes with a maturing faith and trust in the Sovereign God of the universe.
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”
Ephesians 3:20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/eph.3.20.NLT
By His mighty power at work within each of us, His children, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. God’s creativity and imagination trumps ours every single time. Even the biggest, most extravagant scheme you can come up with for your life is boring and humdrum compared to the least thought of God for you, and He thinks of you always!
“How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand!”
Psalms 139:17-18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.139.17-18.NLT
Too often, toddler-like, I set my jaw and clench my fists, determined my way is best, more well thought out. I resist the One who created me for good works and who loves me so much He gave His life for me. I take my stand and move forward in my own strength, and where is God all the while?
“For God has said, “I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”
So we can say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?””
Hebrews 13:5-6 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/heb.13.5-6.NLT
““You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead?
Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake?
Of course not!
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.”
Matthew 7:9-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.7.9-11.NLT
Much of the anxiety I experience stems from moving forward without consulting God. The Israelites are infamous for taking two steps forward and one step back in their walk with the Lord, but one particular occasion resonates with me.
Twelve spies were sent into the land of Canaan ahead of the Israelite advance to report on the land, its produce, its cities and their inhabitants. All but two, Joshua and Caleb, stir up a sense of dread in God’s people, causing them to disobey the Lord’s order to advance. When they’re confronted by Moses, they backpedal and decide they will go up to fight after all, but God is not pleased.
Moses says, ““But the Lord told me to tell you, ‘Do not attack, for I am not with you.
If you go ahead on your own, you will be crushed by your enemies.’”
Deuteronomy 1:42 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/deu.1.42.NLT
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.”
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/ecc.3.1.NLT
The Israelites missed their window of opportunity out of fear and it cost them forty years and a generation of their families. They heard the report of the spies and gave it more weight than the voice of God.
“The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.””
Jeremiah 17:9-10 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/jer.17.9-10.NIV
“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Psalms 139:23-24 NIV
Joshua and Caleb alone of all that generation cross into the land of promise and subdue it. God spoke words of courage to Joshua and by His divinely inspired Word, He speaks the same truth to you and me today. When God moves us, we can be certain of one very important fact: He is with us.
““Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.
Be strong and very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you.
Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left.
Then you will be successful in everything you do.
Study this Book of Instruction continually.
Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it.
Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
This is my command—be strong and courageous!
Do not be afraid or discouraged.
For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.””
Joshua 1:6-9 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jos.1.8.NLT
Joshua made war with the enemies of God at God’s command. We, too, are called to do battle with God’s enemy and we are also assured the victory when we follow His battle plan. We study His Book of Instruction, the Bible, meditating on it day and night so that we will do everything written in it.
Jesus said, “When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.
I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy.
Yes, your joy will overflow!”
John 15:9-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.9-11.NLT
Obeying God may feel dangerous and risky at times, but being in the center of God’s will is the absolute safest place to be!
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/php.4.6-7.NASB1995
“Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you.
And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””
Matthew 28:19-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.28.19-20.NLT
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him.
Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”
Ephesians 3:16-17 NLT
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