Michelle Thorne Books

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Jump In!

March 8, 2012 by Michelle

Have you ever seen a little kid learning to jump into water for the first time? The fear that grips them is evident. They know they can trust their father, but they do so against every fiber of their being. They hesitate and question making sure that their father is indeed going to be there to catch them. They make certain he knows that they are about to jump and risk drowning if he does not do his job. A child will work very hard to ensure that their father will do what he has promised, catch them. As an adult, we know the child can trust his father. The father will catch the child. What loving father would do less?

I think that trust is an innate issue. Because I can only control myself, I am inclined to be hesitant with God when it comes to something that feels like it will harm me. Why does trusting God feel so laborious sometimes? Why do we begrudgingly hang our heads and shuffle along, as if it’s not what we wanted?

“Okay, God. I guess I have no choice but to trust You.”

I have actually said this out loud. Seriously.

How utterly disappointing it must be for God. What a let down. The reality that I don’t have confidence in Him to supply all my needs. There are times when I can’t see beyond the six inches in front of my face, and I wonder blindly if God can. Why? Why would I wonder such a thing?

Hebrews 4:14-16 says, “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are-yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

Hold firmly. Approach with confidence. Receive mercy. Find grace. When should I do all those things? In my time of need.

I don’t know about you, but I have felt needy a lot in my life. Unfortunately most times, I have not held firmly to the faith I have professed, but felt chaotic and lost instead. I have replaced confidence with doubt, been too busy worrying to receive mercy, and too self-focused to find grace. I have hung my head and shuffled my feet and wondered, “Where is God?” I have thrown fits that would put toddlers to shame because to me trusting God sometimes feels like being thrown into the ocean during a storm. However, I suspect that to God its more like seeing a scared child wonder if his dad will catch him when he jumps into the pool and his father’s waiting arms.

So, I want to encourage those of you like me, who sometimes need to be reminded of the trustworthiness of God. Jump in! The water is fine.