Don’t Cling To Safety

Dear Younger Me,

Do you remember when you were learning to swim?

You always preferred to stay in the shallow water, or to swim along by the side of the pool where you knew there was something you could hold on to. You liked that sense of safety.

Finally you were coaxed out into the deeper water with the promise that you could wear arm bands, only to discover after you had swum across the pool that the instructor had removed all the air from them!

She was hoping to encourage you that you could do it, to build your confidence, but I remember you mainly felt annoyed that you had been tricked!

You carry that same attitude into many areas of life – staying where it’s shallow, where it’s safe, where you feel in control – but eventually you’re going to have to learn to venture out into deeper water.

Jesus came that you might have “life in all its fullness” (John 10:10) and you’re never going to achieve that, or fulfil your potential, if you insist on playing it safe.

There will be times when God calls you and you don’t feel capable; or the outcome is uncertain and the risk just seems too great. You will want to hold back and cling to safety, but instead you’re going to have to learn to let go. That’s what faith is all about.

We talked already about how it is perfect love that casts out all fear, and I think that is the key: grasping and experiencing the depth of God’s love for you is what is going to enable you to take the risk.

“May you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.” (Ephesians 3:18-19 NLT)

All I can say is that I’ve never regretted it when I’ve stepped out in faith. It doesn’t mean it always goes smoothly, but God will not fail you.

Let go of control, and allow him to be your safety. Go deep, and you’ll see for yourself that the risk is worthwhile.

Love,

Me

This post is part of “Dear Younger Me…” – a series for Write 31 Days in October 2019. Each day I am basing my writing on the one-word prompt provided.  Today the prompt is “deep.”  You can find an introduction to the series and an index of all the posts here, and you can find out more about the challenge and check out other people’s series here.