OVERCOMING FEAR

I'm pretty sure you haven't lived until you've seen a four or five-year old overcome their fear of diving boards.

Last week, I was watching my own children participate in swim lessons at the WWU pool, when I caught a glimpse of a little girl up on the diving board. All week she was frightened of the looming horizontal plank. Her parents had told her that her teacher may ask them to jump off the diving board. This warning inflicted much worry on her tiny heart all week. Little by little, day by day, the teacher scooted her class towards the diving board in hopes that each one would take the plunge. The teacher knew they would be safe, she could see the bigger picture. She also knew that more than likely the child would love taking the risk and would want to do it again after she jumped.

On Friday, it was her day. With a life-vest on, she slowly crept out onto the diving board, shaking from cold and fear. All of the parents neglected their own children to cheer on this little girl. Slowly, even more slowly, she inched out to the edge of the diving board. The teacher was in the pool, ready to catch her. Her parents were armed with cameras, but barely breathing; I don't think any of the parents at the pool were breathing. She stared down at her teacher, for several minutes, with tears in her eyes. Then finally, she jumped.

The crowd of onlookers erupted in cheers, the parents celebrated, the teacher praised the student, the student could barely believe it herself, and God simply smiled.

Throughout Scripture, one of the most common phrases is "Do not be afraid." Again and again, God has to remind us to not fear. He has to remind us that we don't see the whole picture, only He does, and in His arms we are more than safe. We need to realize that God is standing there, waiting to wrap us up in His arms and whisper in our ear, "Well done, good and faithful servant." All the while the angels are off in the distance cheering.

I'm not sure what fear you may be holding onto today. I'm not sure what it is that scares you; a job transition, a bad economy, an opportunity to witness or reach out to someone, a request, a relationship, a call to serve. But in the words of Mike Yaconelli, I hope you can learn the "joy and abandon of running and jumping and playing hard-without worrying about what "might" happen." For His arms are always long enough to save (Isaiah 59: 1).

Go in peace and joy and trust in Jesus to be there for you, arms wide open, to receive you unto Himself for whatever you face today.