Reading: Psalm 63 (I like the NLT version for this Psalm)
My family and I went on one of our quick camping trips over the weekend. We visited the Florida Caverns State park. My husband wanted to take our little ones through the cave and he made plans for the adventure over several days. Many conversations were had to prepare the girls for the experience. However, when the time came to enter the cave my five year old was petrified with fear. Her father was holding her younger sister's hand and I was holding hers. They were about five to ten steps ahead of us. As we began to walk down the steps going into the cave, fear crept up on her with each step she took. In the beginning, she would look ahead at her father and sister (who isn't afraid of anything) and saw how they were just easily walking down the steps. She would then look down at her feet and take another few steps. After entering the cave and as we started the downward slope into the cave, she became petrified and called out to me, “Momma, I've changed my mind.” I told her it was okay but in my mind I was preparing to turn around and take her out of there. She was too afraid and it was becoming to much for her. It was about that time her father turned back and said, “Come on up here with me and I will hold your other hand.” As she looked up and saw her fathers loving hand reaching out to take hers, her body became mobile again and she was ready for action. Half way through the tour she looked up at me and said, “Momma, this is great!” and she hasn't stop talking about her cavern experience since.As you read over this story you might think, what a sweet story about how a little girl is comforted by her father. But the experience for me was much more. As I saw my daughter reach up to take her father's hand, I thought of my heavenly Father and how He promises to hold my hand and guide me through my fears. So many times, we sit petrified at the thought of the actions that the Father has called us to take. We want to turn around and go back to the place from which we came; the place we last found comfort. We are so afraid of where we are going that we become petrified not willing to make a move. We even call out for help to the ones around us who can only offer momentary comfort, not long lasting comfort that sustains us through our fears. However, if we will look into the Word of God and search for the Father, we will see that He is standing there with His hand clutched tightly around ours. He patiently awaits for us to realize this so we will relax our muscles and become mobile.
Is the Father calling you to be mobile? Has He specifically asked you to do something for Him and you are so petrified with fear you can't move forward? He longs for you to search and find Him. He longs for you to see how He has your hand clutched tightly into His. Realize that He is holding on to your hand and since He is the one doing the holding you can be assured that He will never let go. It is not the nature of His love to turn loose of His children. You will always be in His tight grip. Mobilize and take security in the Father and know that He is with you always. We never know where our Father is leading us, but we can rest assure it will prosper us, not harm us and give us hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11) And in my experience with our Father, I can tell you it will be an experience that you will not stop talking about!!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I come to You searching. I have been petrified with fear and I know those fears will not cease until I realize You have my hand. Help me to trust in You so I can mobilize and move forward in Your will. Give me the strength to overcome this fear. Thank you for Jesus who strengthens me daily. Amen.
