Finally we climb the stairs, still afraid we sit on Jesus’ lap and take the trip down the slide. We get to the bottom and what do you think? We loved it, it was not what we thought it would be at all! We found joy and relaxation, in fact serving in a ministry with and for Jesus is thrilling!
For God Himself
has said, I will
not in any way
fail you nor
give you up nor
leave you
without support.
(I will) not. (I
will) not, (I
will) not in any
degree leave you
helpless nor
forsake nor let
(you) down
(relax My hold
on you)!
Assuredly not!
Hebrews 13:5b
As I was with
Moses, so I will
be with you, I
will not fail
you or forsake
you. Joshua 1:5
I don’t know
about you, but I
think I’m going
to try to stay
off the side
lines and get in
the action. Life
with Jesus is
more satisfying
and rewarding
than I ever
guessed. Serving
Him and serving
others brings
joy into my
life. When
another person
finds victory in
their life or
meets Jesus for
the first time
all of heaven
rejoices! Step
out and be part
of the
rejoicing!
August 29, 2001
Sunday was hot
and we’d been
promising my
nephews we’d
take them
swimming to this
great pool in
Crystal, a
suburb near our
home. They’d
been waiting for
this; in fact
they had even
made up a little
chant “Cry-stal
Po-ol, Cry-stal
po-ol, Cry-stal
po-ol”. After
church, we went
out to eat and
then home to get
ready for
swimming.
They were so
excited! It was
all they could
talk about. We
got there and
when we paid our
admission, they
told us the
youngest
(Elijah-he’s 4)
couldn’t go on
the water slide
alone, but Cam
could (he’s 7).
This was fine
with Elijah, he
could go, but
had to have one
of us with him.
We got through
the locker rooms
and out to the
pool and swam
very briefly
before Cam was
climbing the
stairs to the
slide. They had
a regular slide
too for the
little kids, one
like a backyard
swing set type.
Elijah went down
that one, but
wanted someone
at the bottom to
catch him. He
quickly got
tired of it and
went to the
shallow area to
splash, play and
swim.
Cam was going up the stairs and down the slide over and over. I went down the water slide too and once in a while I would go over and talk to Elijah, play with him and then go back to the slides. My boyfriend, stayed with Elijah and played with him. There were two water slides, so Cam and I were racing to see who could get to the bottom first. We would wave over to my boyfriend and Elijah to try to get them to come and join the fun. Elijah was afraid and wouldn't come to the slide area. My boyfriend eventually coaxed Elijah to come over and watch us slide. They were the judges to see who came out of the chute first, me or Cam because we were still racing. There is a bridge over the bottom end of the chutes and they could see us going by on one of the curves of the slide and then a few seconds later come flying out of the chute. I have to admit--it was really fun!
Well, we got Elijah to want to try it and to his credit he got to the top of the stairs and looked afraid, but said he was ready. My boyfriend and Elijah went down one chute and Cam and I went down the other one. The kids would lay on top of us as we went down. My boyfriend sat up the first time with Elijah because you go slower. Cam and I were at the bottom of the chute, in the pool, waiting for them. When they got to the bottom, we were clapping and cheering and they were all smiles! Elijah couldn’t wait to get up the stairs and go again. We must have went down the slides 30 times. Sometimes I would go with Elijah, most times with Cam and sometimes alone. After a few times Elijah wanted to go faster and faster, my boyfriend would lay on his back with him, going as fast as they could. They even beat Cam and I to the bottom a few times!
I think Elijah is like many Christians are. Jesus says “Come with Me. There’s nothing to fear, I will be with you and hold you through the entire experience. You will discover it’s not as you think and you will find joy.”
We can sit on the sidelines and watch other people serve and obey God, walking with Jesus every step of the way. We see the joy on their face and the thrill that ministry and serving gives them in their lives, and yet we’re afraid to climb the steps. We watch on the side of the pool as the Holy Spirit nudges us. Then we get ready for a risk and go down the small slide. Eventually we go to the bridge and watch as the Holy Spirit nudges us again. We pray, Jesus assures us He will be right there every second of the trip and still we hesitate.
