Hope Without Limits

We make the choice so many times each day and we don’t even realize it most of the time.

It became very clear to me last week during our vacation.  I had a choice.  Fear or freedom?

Being transparent … my first choice was fear.  It seemed a logical choice.  The tumble I took off the bike our first night on our dash to see the sunset was pretty significant and I still bear the bruises 12 days later.  So I rationalized that being afraid of riding the bike and avoiding riding the bike was the best way to keep myself safe.

The only problem with that … I was relying on fear rather than my Heavenly Father.  Not the best choice to make.

I wish I could say it was some “heroic” choice I made to get “back up on the horse that threw me”, but that would not be true.  I was really scared to try again, but the little kid in me didn’t want to get left behind while everyone else was out exploring.  Not exactly noble, but I’m glad I listened to the kid in me.  She helped me to discover the choice I was unknowingly making.

When I told my husband I wanted to try again he gave me his “are you sure about this look”?  I told him I was sure, but I didn’t want an audience this time.  He patiently reviewed everything about the gears on the bike with me and just the 2 of us set-off to explore.  First to the end of the wide street – so far so good.  Next we turn onto a flat, paved bike path – a little narrower but I’m still doing well.  And where did that path lead … to the beach and wide open spaces … wooo hooo!

Oh what I would have missed if I had continued to choose fear to protect myself.  I wish I could capture the feeling of the beach under the wheels of the bike just rolling along as you take in the beauty of the sand, water and sun but I am not that talented a photographer.  But I can share with you some of the other highlights of our exploring:

A ghost crab hiding along the trail …

A larger ghost crab enjoying low tide

I was thoroughly enjoying myself when I realized our exploring had brought us back to “the trail”.  You know …. the trail … the narrow, winding trail with tree roots crossing it and where the pavement and I had become very intimately acquainted.  

There it was again the choice … fear or freedom.  I chose freedom.  I told my husband to go ahead and let me take it at my own pace.  As I slowly rode along the trail as it snaked its 90+ degree turns I found myself praying a very familiar prayer.  “Thank You Lord that Your faithfulness that is my shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:4).

In that moment I realized something; I truly trusted God’s faithfulness to keep me safer than fear could.   I knew that I knew He would both guide me (Ps 23) and protect me (Ps 91) VICTORY!  FREEDOM!

The child in me that didn’t want to get left behind knew she could trust her Daddy to keep her safe so she wanted to try again despite her fears.  I like her 🙂  I’m glad I followed her lead.

Look what was waiting for me at the end of the trail 

If this were a TV show, here is where I would say “and they lived happily ever after”; but this is real life so being honest, I must confess I had to continue to choose fear or freedom every time I got back on the bike and the bruises would remind me of my poor choice the first night to not re-acclamate to bike-riding before hitting the trail.

Each time I chose the freedom that comes with trusting my Heavenly Father to guide and protect me rather than choosing fear to protect me.  Every time it was the best choice and with it came the discovery of new things … like marshlands.  I never knew they were so beautiful.

As you go through your day, what do you believe will keep you safest?