What's Holding You Back?

February 25, 2019 1 Comment

I had a very eye opening experience two weeks ago. It was only a minute or so in length, but it really moved me.

I was serving in the kid's ministry at church on Sunday morning. It was my first time back since having our baby, Graham. 

As the kids were having their free time, some of the girls in the classroom were playing with hula hoops. Yes, those circle things that you spin around your hips. I have never been able to do that for longer than a few seconds, especially after just having a baby. 

One of the girls yelled to me: "Jessica, watch this!" She proceeded to throw the hula hoop in front of her and then ran through it, while it was moving! I was very impressed! She then said: "You do it!" I laughed and said: "I can't do that, but I know that all things are possible with God!" She then said: "Then, you can do it!"

I shamefully admit that my response was not one of child-like faith. She continued to ask me three more times, and like Peter, I denied her saying: "I am too old for that and can't bend that low." I then walked away. 

I walked away from this girl with Child-like faith, feeling hypocritical and ashamed. I thought to myself: "I just told her that everything is possible with God, and then proceeded to deny the truth in my actions." I wasn't walking out my faith. I was afraid of failing, falling flat on my face, and scared of what others would think of me. I could see it before my eyes - me running through the hula hoop, falling on my face, and the kids laughing at me. How embarrassing! But actually, it was more embarrassing to claim the truth of Jesus, deny it, and walk away from it. Yes, I may have fallen on my face, but I would have stepped out. I would have put my faith into action and shown this little girl what it means to have child-like faith, even at 28 years old. But, I relied on my own human strength and basically said: "I can't do that - that's impossible for me." On the contrary, Jesus would say:

"Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." (Matthew 19:26)

I know this may sound like a silly example and Jesus wasn't specifically talking about running through hula hoops, but it really moved me. 

What is holding you back from what God is calling you to do? What promise has Jesus laid on your heart that you are walking away from, or starting to doubt? What fear or anxiety is standing in the way of that promise? 

Today, let's draw a line in the sand and say:

"Today, I am going to run through that hula hoop and leave fear behind! Even if I fall flat on my face, I am going to trust Jesus and get back up again. I am going to take that bold leap of faith knowing that Jesus has gone before me and has made a way!"

Jesus will give us the strength to take that step and He will do far more than we could ever ask or imagine. He will give us child-like faith to believe, walk it out boldly, and trust Him with the results. 

"But Jesus said, “Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children.” (Matthew 19:14)

Bold in Christ, 

Jess

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