Walking by faith requires trust. But what happens when you find it hard to trust. After all, people you thought you could trust may have let you down. That hurts! And who wants to experience that kind of hurt again? So we determine not to trust or depend on anyone but ourselves. But how's that working for you?
This summer I'm working with preschool children in camp. Every morning the children have swim instruction. James was a new four year old child. As we walked single file towards the swimming pool, he kept telling me he didn't want to go under water. I introduced James to his swim instructor Jenna and told her about his fear. I observed James throughout his first swim lesson.
Jenna worked on establishing trust with James. She took off her sunglasses so he could see her eyes. She told him she wouldn't let him go. She held his hand as she taught him to blow bubbles in the water. He still hadn't put his head in the water though.
Jenna finally got James to lie on his back so he could learn to float. I could see him struggling for control. Each time he took his eyes off of Jenna, he began to sink and get scared. She kept asking James to look at her eyes and reassure him that she wouldn't let him go. I could see his body relax and
...he floated.
When the lessons were completed, James was smiling and excited. Until the next day ...
Once again, James began to tell me he was not going to go under the water. Jenna worked with James assuring him that she wouldn't let him go. Finally, she talked to him about putting his head under the water. He agreed as she held his hand. His head went under and then up he came. He laughed. It wasn't so bad after all. When he left to go home that day, he excitedly told his mom that he had gone under the water.
The next day James came to camp, he kept telling me he wasn't going to swim. I asked him why. He said he didn't want to put his head under the water. I asked him if his eyes hurt when he went under the water. He said no. I asked him if his ears hurt him and again he said no. Finally, he looked at me and said "I want to do it myself."
I don't know if James had an experience in the past that caused this fear. But isn't this something we adults often say? "I want to do it myself." We are afraid to trust someone else and depend on ourselves even when we don't know what we're doing.
God is trustworthy. He isn't like humans who may have disappointed us in some way. As a child of God, He holds our hand. Sometimes I forget this and get scared. Instead of looking to Jesus, I look to myself and I begin to sink.
"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
James continues to take swim instruction each day at summer camp. Jenna continues to work with him on developing trust and he is growing in confidence as he makes progress.
How about you? Are you learning to walk by faith trusting in the God who created you and loves you? Or are you depending on yourself?
I'm linking up with Charlotte for
Spiritual Sundays.
Blessings and love,
