“I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.” Psalm 121:1-3

Don’t Look Down!

Have you ever had an opportunity to experience an adventure like a trek that is beyond your norm, your natural ability, and out of your comfort zone? This expression, “Don’t look down!” is wise advice your hiking guide would give as you were crossing a deep chasm on narrow footing. He knows that looking down and losing focus could disorient you, resulting in an accident or failure to make it to the other side.

In  Matthew 14: 28-30 when Peter left the boat to walk on the water to Jesus, he looked down at the waves which opened the door to fear and doubt, causing him to start sinking.

I love Deuteronomy 32:10-12 that describes how the eagle encourages her young to leave the nest. She knows when the time is right for the eaglets to fly so she begins making the nest uncomfortable by taking out the soft material, leaving only the prickly branches. Gradually the chicks begin to take that “leap of faith”, but if they should fail to fly on the first try, she swoops beneath them and carries them on her wings back to the nest. She watches closely and never lets one fall, but repeats the process until they are able to soar on their wings and experience the freedom and joy the nest could never provide.

I have to ask myself: would the Lord ever call me to trust Him where He could not keep me or rescue me? Of course not! Like the eagle, the Lord gently calls me out of my comfort zone and makes me succeed. He will not let me fall. He continually nudges me to venture out on an adventurous journey with Him and encourages me with, “Don’t look down!” I have the choice to stay in my comfort zone but I know if I did that I would become complacent, fail to mature, and my passion for Him would atrophy!

Joy and freedom are not found in the familiar comfort of the “nest”, but in Him. So keep looking up, for “He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:24).

“Lord, more than anything, I want to know, trust, obey, and please You. Give me the faith to step out of my comfort zone to take advantage of every opportunity to trust You more, for without faith it is impossible to please You! Amen!”