Leap of Faith

On Wednesday nights, I attend Church with Ella and Andrew while Brian is working, where we have dinner and fellowship time with our new Church Family.  After our meal, the kids head off to a class called “Mission Friends” where they learn about different missionaries around the world and I go to a woman’s class called “Journey“.

During the class, we have a prayer request time and we read daily devotionals that have different stories relating to life and each women is given the chance to sign up for a different day and share with the other ladies what the story is about and discuss it.

This particular week, my devotional was entitled – Leap of Faith.

It’s about a woman named Sophia, who is going through a rough time in her life. While at her mother’s house, she found a DVD she wanted to share with her. Sophia sat down on the couch, popped it into the player and was surprised by a familiar voice calling her name – her dad.

In the footage, she was about 3 years old, wearing a red and white one-piece bathing suit, standing on the edge of a pool.  Her dad called to her, “Come on, you can do it!”, as he stood arms outstretched waiting to catch her as she leaped into the pool.  Sophia was afraid and didn’t want to jump.  “There’s nothing to be afraid of.  I’ll catch you!”, he reassured her.
After some time, Sophia jumped!  Fear enveloped her body but she had faith her father would catch her and that everything would be alright and he did.  She watched as she giggled and  returned to the edge to do it all again. Sophia realized in the end that if she could overcome her fears as a child, she knew she could face her fears now. But this time, she knew she had her Heavenly Father to cheer her on.

As I told the story to my friends in my class, I began to cry. Tears streamed down my cheeks and I couldn’t stop them.  It came out of nowhere. I apologized, for I had no idea why this was happening to me. I was shocked that my emotions were so strong.

Was it the picture in my mind of the little girl jumping to her dad that reminded me of my days as a child? Was it thinking of my little girl growing up and facing her fears, doing this exact thing in the pool a few weekends ago?  Or was it my realization that God is there to catch me as I face my fears? All of these things were racing through my mind as I sat there trying to gain my composure to finish my devotional.

As I drove home, I wondered why in the world I had such a strong reaction to this story… and then it clicked!

I truly think it was God working in me.  I think it finally clicked in my head that I need to give it all to Him.  I need to face my fears and trust that He is going to make it all OK.  Just as I trusted my dad as a child, I also need to trust the Lord to do his job. Isaiah 35:4 says, ” Say to the faint-hearted: ‘Be strong; do not fear!’ God does not want us to run away from our problems, he wants us to face them head on and to have faith that he will walk through difficult times with us.

As I sit here and reflect on my life, I am reminded of how I’ve always had faith in my dad’s love, guidance and strength throughout my entire life.  I also realize that I have my Heavenly Father giving me all those things as well.  I feel comforted knowing that on this Father’s Day, I have two VERY important Fathers in my life to rely on.  I know that I can always call on either of them – and they will be there for me, rooting me on and lifting me up.  And when the tears fall or the joy abounds from my heart, they will be there for me.  I am grateful and humbled by knowing the unconditional love I will receive for the rest of my days on earth and in heaven.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad. I love you!

And thank you, Lord for your strength daily!