An anxious little boy paces up and down the edge of the pool clad in orange arm floaties, goggles suited for snorkeling, and smears of SPF 50. Dad’s voice calls from inside the pool, “You can do it! I’ll catch you! Just trust me!” The boy stares skeptically at his dad and paces up and down the pool a few more times, sizing up the risk.
Finally, he takes a messy, wild plunge into the pool with one hand clutching his nose and the other flailing about, and his dad is right there, just as he said he would be. He clings to his father for a moment, and he realizes that he is safe and jumping into the pool is awesome.
He jumps in again, this time without reservation.
***
This little boy had a plan for when things went wrong, and then he had a backup plan. He was sure he would sink to the bottom, so he had on his floaties, and just in case those didn’t work, his dad waiting to catch him. The thing is, before he jumps, his mind is consumed with all the things that could go wrong, but once he realizes he will be alright, he is willing to take the risk again.
I have to ask myself, how often I do I approach life like this little boy? How often to I walk into a situation expecting things to go wrong and expecting to have to use my backup plan?
Probably more than I’d like to admit.
In fact, right now I am pushing down the fear that I will not reach my fundraising goal of $10,000 total raised by December 14th even though God showed up in a BIG WAY for my first fundraising deadline. I am fighting the urge to make a backup plan for what will happen if I don’t reach this goal even though God has proven his faithfulness time and time again.
Why do I do that?
I like to have a plan (and a backup plan) because I like to feel safe. Now, don’t get me wrong, having a plan B is not bad, but sometimes the dreams in our hearts are replaced by the backup plans and the “just in cases.” We trick ourselves into believing that the “safe thing” was what we wanted all along. Sometimes, we are willing to forfeit our dream to avoid failure or the vulnerability required to share it with others.
The sad thing is, what we are truly losing is the ability to walk in our purpose because we don’t have enough faith to believe that the dreams in our hearts actually stand a chance of coming true.
Exodus 13-14 details the moments when Moses led the Jews away from the tyrannical Pharaoh and into the freedom they had dreamed of for years. However, the Pharaoh decided to chase after them, and the Jews became distraught and nostalgic, wishing they had never left the safety of their enslaved lives Egypt in the first place. There is a lot to pull out of these chapters, but I will focus on a small moment.
According to Jewish texts, when Moses was preparing for the parting of the Red Sea, a man from the tribe of Judah walked into the water up to his nostrils. No miracle had occurred yet, but this man wasn’t trying to come up with a way to fight the Egyptians or looking for a place to hide. He wasn’t wishing he was back in the safety of slavery, nor was he cursing Moses for leading them away from Egypt. Instead, he faithfully waded into the water, and just as the water reached his nostrils, Moses lifted his staff and the waters parted. The Jews were safe, the Egyptians were squandered, and God was glorified.
This man sticks out, doesn’t he? Amidst a gaggle of people dreaming of their safety nets in Egypt (as slaves!), he was dreaming of something bigger, something the others were once dreaming of before their fear took over. This man of Judah had his eyes set on the faithfulness of God and the promise of freedom. Because of this, he was willing to wade into the deep, and God showed up. Perhaps his faith was a catalyst for a miracle.
***
When we examine the man from Judah and the little boy in the pool we can notice that there are two fundamental and important similarities. First, they both take a step outside of what feels rational, cautious, and comfortable. Second, they both experience the guidance and assistance of a loving father.
Friend, if you have been aching for something deep within your soul, if there is a dream you have locked away in the corner, then I dare you to have faith in it. Believe in it. Take that first bold, faith-filled step that defies both logic and comfort.
Then, take another, and another, and another.
These steps will probably be hard and riddled with moments that make you want to go running to your “just in cases,” but don’t compromise. Press forward on your journey and into the arms of a Father who loves you and cares about your success.
Take off your floaties, sweet friend, and cannon ball into the deep with the faith that you will float.
Until the whole world hears,
Mia
***
PS – Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help me reach my next fundraising goal!!!
