I WENT SKYDIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
As I sat in reflection following skydiving I could see clear connections from the experience that correlated with my own walk with Jesus.
Let me take a step back and explain some background information.
For the last year the Lord has been teaching me about escaping my comfort zone for the sake of experiencing a deeper, richer relationship with him. I’ve intentionally walked through uncomfortable things, things I really didn’t want to do, because I knew God was leading me to something far greater.
Skydiving was no different. It was a pushed comfort zone ending in an amazing, life-changing experience.
Comfort zones make me feel safe. Being uncomfortable exposes my weaknesses.
I think I hate leaving those places of security because in those moments all I see are my depravities but it’s then that I’m reminded of my immense dependence on the Father.
When I’m obedient and trade my comfort for discomfort, I experience God in miraculous ways. Pretty great trade if you ask me. So, why is it so hard to do?
Two things I have to remind myself to live by daily. 1. Be comfortable being uncomfortable. 2. Great things never come from comfort zones.
OK, back to skydiving!!!
Skydiving allowed me to experience Jesus in a HUGE way!!!
Every moment of skydiving exposed an intricate part of walking with Jesus. Each little detail, starting with putting on gear, to the plane ride up, the door flinging open, standing on the step, the initial leap, the free-fall, the parachute opening, steering the parachute through the air, to the landing.
People called me crazy for jumping out of a perfectly good airplane.
I’ve had people look at my life and think I’m crazy for believing in God, or for living my life differently than what the world has defined as ‘normal’.
Skydiving came with a little bit of fear at times and some ‘what if’s’ maybe just as terrifying as when God calls me to do something that requires me to leave comfort, like public speaking… The kind where your stomach tightens, palms sweat, and your mind always goes to the worst possible outcome but in the midst of being uncomfortable you know it’s going to be so good, and you’re excited, too.
First step, gearing up! In skydiving, you gear up with a harness, a tandem instructor, and a parachute. You equip yourself with these things to help navigate the jump and preform the skydive safely.
In my walk with the Lord, I equip myself with the Word. When God calls us to radical obedience, often times pushing our comforts, the enemy steps in with every lie and tool to lead us away from God. Knowing the Word allows you to combat lies with truth and reminds you of the promises of God. We can find peace knowing we are equipped with the truth.
Now you want me to cram knee to knee and shoulder to shoulder with 4 other people in what feels like a shoebox? Yeah, physically uncomfortable is an understatement. Oh, but the view from the plane took my breath away. If I had only focused on my less-than-ideal circumstances and uncomfortableness I would have missed the awe-inspiring aerial views surrounding me.
The same goes if I find myself constantly dwelling on discomfort and struggles instead of pointing out the ways I see that God is still working in the midst of those times, because he is working. Sometimes looking back I see the Lord working in my life in the biggest ways in seasons where I felt like everything was going ‘wrong’ or nothing was happening.
The calm and quiet, yet crammed, plane ride instantly turned chaotic and loud in the matter of seconds as the door flung open. In that moment, the stillness of looking out the window suddenly turned into the reality of actually jumping out of a plane.
In my walk with God, I find myself in many different seasons, and they sometimes can change suddenly with very little warning, like the door flinging open. I experience seasons of stillness and patience and other seasons of immense busyness, but both seasons I can see the Lord’s hand at work, while it may look differently.
Next, I was faced with a decision as I stood on the step to either pull myself back into the plane or jump forward. Either way I was going to skydive at that point because whether I decided to back out or follow through, the instructor is in control. He is hooked to my back, so if he is going to jump then it’s pretty clear that if he goes then I go.
Much like the instructor was in control over my skydive, God is in control over my life. Scripture tells me God works all things according to his will, he governs all human plans and acts, and his sovereign will governs all daily events. Nothing happens outside of God’s control.
No amount of excitement or preparation will prepare you for the next step, the leap. I’ll tell you I was super excited to jump but it quickly became real and thought “what am I getting myself into?” Then it happened, and I don’t regret it at all because the free-fall is unexplainable. YOU’RE LITERALLY FALLING IN THE SKY!!!!
Much like the physical jump out of a plane, I get the same rush when I finally bite the bullet on something difficult that the Lord has been leading me to. For example, I briefly mentioned my fear of public speaking. Well, this past Sunday my mom made me stand in front of her church and speak about the World Race, not once but TWICE. It was a moment I anticipated greatly with much fear, but with nerves in my stomach I walked to the front of the stage and did it anyways. While I was up there I couldn’t repeat to you a single word of what I said but I know the feeling was pretty unexplainable, it was a calmness I had never felt, especially during something that is arguably my worst fear.
The next part was definitely the most painful part of the whole experience. When the instructor pulled the parachute cord it abruptly jolted my body from a high speed fall to a peaceful glide. That split second change of speed wasn’t the most pleasant, but it was absolutely needed. The thing that decided whether I landed safely or fell to my death, caused the most pain. The parachute didn’t fail me, and I landed safely. I don’t know about you but I’ll choose the quick pain from the parachute over falling, every single time.
I think back to times where the Lord has saved or helped me, where he pulled the parachute, and sometimes I didn’t understand what God had planned or why it had to painful. Honestly, in moments I even questioned God. But then I’m reminded his plan is always greater than mine, and I’d much rather have him in control than me. The Lord is faithful, and He will never fail me.
10/10 WOULD RECOMMEND
Thanks to those of you who made it all the way through my rambling!!!!! Now, GO SKYDIVING!!!!
Only 17 left until WORLD RACE LAUNCH!!!!
