Let’s set the scene.
(I’m in the teal)
A group of us went cliff jumping today on our off day. In order to get to this off the beaten path location, we had to scale large rocks, climb through the brush, and maneuver through rivers. Once we arrived to our location, the breathtaking waterfall, the crystal clear lagoon, and the large cliff overlooking it made the trek worth it. We set out to climb the cliff and with the help of a few teammates and a couple close slippery calls, I made it to the top. I looked over the 22 ft. tall edge, and my fear was palpable. I stood at the edge frozen and began contemplating how I was going to climb back down without jumping. A couple squad mates took the plunge first and all screamed with delight at the bottom. However, my fear was powerful and the longer I waited at the top, the faster my heart raced and the harder my knees shook. A few others were struggling to jump as well and I jokingly said, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.” So with that, I jumped! It was terrifying, exhilarating, fun, and freeing. I even went back up for another jump.
Once back at camp, I was lying in my hammock reliving the experience on the cliff and realized it was a metaphor for what I want for my life. I don’t want to sit on the bank watching others jump off cliffs and I most certainly don’t want to climb all the way to the top just to turn around and go back down. I don’t want to let fear stop me from doing anything the Lord has for me. I want a life that requires me to conquer big fears in order to gain big rewards.
What cliffs has the Lord asked you to jump off? What fears are holding you back from something He has called you do? My advice…..is JUMP!
