The other day I was helping out at a ropes course. There was a girl who wanted to do the high elements but was also terrified to do it. We encourage the kids that each challenge is a choice. As this girl stood at the bottom of the cargo net to climb up to the high elements I reminded her she could go now, later or not at all, the choice was hers. With tears in her eyes she started climbing. She climbed and climbed and climbed. By the time she got to the top she was in tears, hesitant to climb onto the platform. She paused for a while but eventually got onto the platform where she stood shaking. The instructor beside her once again offered her options, to come down or to do the high elements. She didn’t decide right away but stayed up there watching others do the high elements. In time, she did choose to do the high elements on the course. I couldn’t help but get choked up as I watched this girl conquer fear.
When she came down I smile and asked her, “how does it feel to be on the other side of fear?” She smiled and laughed saying, “great!” Then she floated away with her friends, light like a feather with all the burden of fear having been released.
I share this story with you because the reality is, we are all that girl in some way. Maybe our fear isn’t a climb up a cargo net to high elements. Whatever the fear is that we are staring, I invite you to join me to…
pause. breathe. pray.
May we not allow fear to rule our hearts. May we trust that God is with us as we step towards what we fear and will give us the strength and courage we need to move through it and forwards. When we get to the other side of the fear, no matter how long that takes, I pray we too are transformed and feeling lighter, just as that courageous girl did the other day on the ropes course.
With love and hope,
Shawn
Do strong and courageous, do not fear or be dismayed for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go - Joshua 1:9
And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts - Colossians 3:15