Just watch a young bird try to get aloft. It’s nearly impossible when its wings are undeveloped. If it tries to fly too early, it will fall to the ground and be eaten by hungry predators.
However, to teach their young to fly, adult birds often hover just away from the nest, too far for their young to reach out to them, yet close enough to rescue them if they find they aren’t quite ready to make it on their own. They are there to be the wind beneath their wings when their little ones are just learning to be independent
That what Jesus does for us. There are times we struggle to trust in him. We cry, “Where are you, God?” Our safe little world becomes crowded with the problems of life. We want to get past them, but every time we try to move on, we find the edge of the nest, and there’s only empty air on the other side.
“Pick up the slack, Jesus,” we cry. “We need you there to hold everything together.”
He whispers back, “I’m here, just out of reach, and I’m helping you to grow. You can do this, and if you begin to fall, I’ll be the wind beneath your wings.”
We find his promises spoken best by the master psalmist of all time, David. His words in Psalm 23:1-6 speak the beauty of our Lord’s assurances.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures.
“He leads me beside still waters.
“He restores my soul.
“He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
“Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
“You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
“And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
There comes a point in our lives where we have to grow up in the Lord. Jesus takes off our training wheels, he removes the safety net from the trampoline, and he puts the car keys in our hand. He gives us a gentle nudge and says, “Now it’s up to you. Just trust me. If you flounder a little every now and them, I’m nearby, and I’ll catch you and lift you back up again.”
It’s time to leap into the unknown for Jesus. We can trust him to catch us if we fall.
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Code: FGO.D.14.15b.vp.esv