Before we began this activity, the retreat staff member in the picture explained to everyone that when falling backwards, the natural reaction is to bend your knees in an attempt to safeguard yourself from hitting the ground head first. However, he warned us that we must not bend our knees or else it will make it difficult for the others to catch us properly and may cause more damage or injury than expected or necessary. He also cautioned us that when falling backwards, another natural reaction is to stretch out our arms in an attempt to grab something or someone from the innate fear of falling. However, he instructed us that we must keep our hands crossed (as pictured) in order to avoid accidentally and rather recklessly hitting and injuring one of our beloved catchers. Of all of the challenges and activities of this retreat, this was probably the hardest one for me. There were so many thoughts and emotions and anxieties running through my entire being during this challenge, I thought I was going to throw up. But what's funny is, before I took my position on the platform to take my turn at the trust fall, I was down on the ground with the others with my hands stretched out yelling to someone else, "Come on, you can do it!", "We aren't going to let you fall", preparing to catch them.... and guess what, we didn't let one person fall or hit the ground. We caught every single person.
Throughout the activity, I paid attention to the fear and anxiety everyone experienced right before their fall (which of course didn't help me when it was my turn). There was always that question mark or that fear of the unknown. There was always that one last backwards glance at the others to make sure their arms were outstretched and they were indeed in sturdy position to catch us. There was always the thought, "What if they don't catch me?" or "What if I'm too heavy?" Even though, not one person was dropped.... Isn't it funny how fear gives us the tendency to believe that we will be the exception? Fear makes us readily assume the negative even to the point of ignoring the consistently positive. I've been there before myself with regards to life in general. I've seen God show up in mighty ways for my friends and family members. I've seen Him show up even in my own life time and time again. However, sometimes in certain areas where I've allowed fear to dominate, I still cling to that uncertainty or that unspoken paralyzing fear or that fallacious reasoning that I will be the exception.
Later on in the retreat, we had a chance to do some reflection and discussion about the different challenges and activities. We discussed the emotions and feelings and reactions that surfaced and identified where they stemmed from. First of all, I never expected to hear some of the wisdom and insight I heard from such a young group. I was blessed to be among some wise, aware and discerning teens who had such depth in their overall perspectives. I was literally in awe and I must admit, proud that these same teens are among a rising generation of our future leaders. Listening to them speak about facing their fears and learning to trust made me think about how faithful God is. I mean think about it... every single promise in the word of God is as good as done. God has NEVER reneged on any promise He's made. NEVER. And the fact stands...He NEVER will. But our lack of faith and trust and yes even our lack of patience oftentimes convinces us otherwise. So in our impatience, we try to "help God out" by "bending our knees" so to speak. We intervene with some of the most absurd and carnal justifications because we think He's taking too long, or He needs our help, or that He's forgotten even....and what happens?.... we end up doing more damage or causing more injury than necessary.
But let's just reflect on some of the scriptures in the Word of God that address the promises of God:
Joshua 21:43-45 AMP
43 And the Lord gave to Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and dwelt in it. 44 The Lord gave them rest round about, just as He had sworn to their fathers. Not one of all their enemies withstood them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands. 45 There failed no part of any good thing which the Lord had promised to the house of Israel; all came to pass.
Joshua 23:14 AMP
14 And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. Know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one thing of them has failed.
Psalms 119:140 AMP
140 Your word is very pure (tried and well-refined); therefore Your servant loves it.
I Thessalonians 5:24 AMP
24 Faithful is He Who is calling you [to Himself] and utterly trustworthy, and He will also do it [fulfill His call by hallowing and keeping you].
Hebrews 10:23 AMP
23 So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the hope we cherish and confess and our acknowledgement of it, for He who promised is reliable (sure) and faithful to His word.
Numbers 23:19 AMP
19 God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall he not do? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?
Jeremiah 1:12 AMP
12 Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.
Isaiah 55:11 AMP
11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
I think we've got some pretty solid documentation of how trustworthy and reliable God is and how faithful He is to His word. Of the scriptures referenced, there are two in particular I would like to address. The first scripture is Jeremiah 1:12. I've heard people say before that when we believe God for something we should remind Him of His promise and remind Him of His word.... .... ... as if he's forgetful and maybe it just slipped His mind. Now I'm not knocking you if that's what you believe you must do.... But this particular verse says that He is alertly watching over His word, He is actively watching over His word to perform it. That means that He is not preoccupied or distracted, but rather He is involved and engaged in fulfilling His promise. He doesn't need us to remind Him of anything. Now, for the sake of clarity, let me be absolutely clear, I don't think it hurts for us to vocally declare God's promises, and actually I believe this is a healthy habit to develop. But it is certainly not for the purpose of reminding God of His word. It is more so to remind us of His word and His promises and build our faith concerning them. The Bible says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God (Romans 10:17)
The second scripture I want to address is Isaiah 55:11. There are some key words in this scripture that I think we incidentally overlook sometimes or we mistakenly devalue their relevance and importance. Again, the scripture reads:
11 So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth: it shall not return to Me void [without producing any effect, useless], but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
You know how easy it is to misinterpret something, right? especially something that is written. It's even harder to assure clear understanding from someone that we're not too familiar with or we don't have a pre-existing sense of that individual's ways and thought patterns already. There's no body language to evaluate, there aren't any non-verbal clues to solidify that we have indeed captured the proper and intended meaning. I can't tell you how many times I've read an email from someone and based on my own perception or perspective, I totally missed the tone and ultimately the point of their message. So, naturally when the situation does not play out as I am expecting, I get frustrated and resentful and even bitter sometimes or my reaction is totally inappropriate and irrational. It is only when I communicate with that individual, dispelling my erroneous beliefs and perception and positioning myself to receive their true intent and motive, it is only then that I can move forward in peace and clarity.
The scripture says that God's word will accomplish what He pleases and purposes, not what we please and purpose. There's a big difference, family. We are not innately privy to God's purposes and plans and our natural instinct doesn't always initially line up with God's. The bible says in Isaiah 55:8 that our ways and our thoughts are different than God's ways and thoughts. Typically, in our immaturity, we have a tendency to confuse the two to the point of convincing ourselves that what we want is what God wants. And when things don't end up the way we've purposed and plan, we get frustrated with God and we either try to "help him out", ultimately making the situation worse, or we discredit his faithfulness and His intentions for us in our hearts, which weakens our faith. So, how do we learn how to trust God and not take matters into our own hands? I believe we need to make an intentional effort to familiarize ourselves with numerous biblical instances of God coming through on His promises to His people throughout the scripture (trust me, there are more than enough). I believe that this is how we will learn His ways. When we are in a position where we must depend and trust totally and completely on Him to come through, we have concrete examples and references where He has consistently proven Himself trustworthy.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you so much for your faithfulness in my life. Thank you for every situation that you allow me to endure that develops and strengthens my faith in you. I know I don't always trust you as readily as I should, but thank you for being patient with me and constantly pursuing me. Thank you for your word, which is true and unchanging and when I am faced with a situation that provokes fear and uncertainty in me, you willingly reveal your trustworthiness to me through your word and your ways. I choose today to not only know and seek you intimately so that I can recognize your ways, but Father today I choose to trust you with my whole heart and know that your plan for me is perfect and for my good. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen.
God Bless,
-Queen
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