Standing on the wooden platform, I watch the feet of my friend step off into the air and hear her shouts of surprise as she zooms into the sky. The zipline and harness are locked into place, and I am next to take the leap of faith. Hands clutching the cords, I sit back into the harness, lift my feet, and fly above the trees. What a thrill!
Next challenge is the ropes course. My harness is once again attached to the cable, and I am instructed to follow the obstacle course. The first obstacle is a series of metal hoops we must climb through. Simple, right? Not for my 52 year-old body! My head bonks into the top of the hoops. The harness strap presses into my neck, and my tall frame does not like contorting itself to fit through these annoying circles. After completing level one, I decide to stop. My friend and her kiddos choose to keep climbing.
Sitting at the bottom of the ropes course, I see a young boy on the third level. He is up high and feeling fearful of the next section. He starts on the path and hesitates. Looking back, he says, “I want to go back!” His father is behind him and encourages him to move forward. A sibling cheers him on from the other side. With newfound courage he creeps forward, the pieces of wood swaying with his movement as he holds on tight to the ropes. A celebration erupts as he reaches the other side and is reunited with the rest of his family.
Joseph and Alex
Our journey of faith is like this event. It starts by choosing to trust in Christ for our salvation, just like I had to trust in the harness to bear my weight on the zip line. We face obstacles on our faith journey, just like the ropes course. There are times that the stresses of life overwhelm us and we need the encouragement of our friends and family to help us move forward.
Celebrate the victories in your life. Look back and remember the scary times God helped you to overcome. Think back to the words of encouragement that renewed your resolve to press on. Now go and find someone else who needs those same words of hope!
Philippians 3: 12-14
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for supporting us through the ups and downs of this life. Thank you for caring friends and family who fill us with hope. Help us to encourage others who are struggling. Give us courage to press on in living a life of faith.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Enjoy Mindy’s favorite worship song
Top photo of Joseph at Refreshing Mountain
healinghope4women 