Sitting at the top of the hill, my heart was pounding and I wanted out of the wagon.
My brother insisted I stay put and all would be fine. He wouldn’t let go of the handle and he would stop the ride at the bottom of the hill.
All I could really do was hold on and trust he would do as he said.
As a child, the hill leading down to my house was steep. The sidewalk was lined with trees that I could smash into yet I placed my baby doll between my knees, clinched the side of the wagon and held my breath the whole way down.
In our lives, there are times we sit at a hill top and face a ride full of adventure. We look below and see the steep incline and the dangers that line our projected route.
Fear can be real and what we really want is to just be off the ride.
“For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver… we went through fire and water but you brought us to a place of abundance.” Psalm 66:10-12 (NIV)
Our fears can paralyze and keep us from moving forward.
Yet through it all, God calls us to a place of trust. A place of trusting where He will bring us through to the end of the ride.
- There’s no promise our ride will be smooth or easy.
- There’s no promise that it won’t be wrought with danger or trial.
- Yet He does promise He will bring us to a place of abundance.
I have since been back to the hill heading down to my childhood home. As a grown adult my view is different. Most of the trees are now cut down and the concrete heaves and splits in the sidewalk are repaved. The incline is just that —- an incline. At the time, my ride seemed insurmountable and my fears were real. I was afraid.
Yet there is something about coming back to the place of our fears and seeing once again the place He brought us through. We remember His faithfulness and it builds our faith.
When my kids were small they also took a wagon ride down that hill. Mom held onto the handle and even though they were scared, she led them to the end.
A few years ago, my kids and I sat on the sidewalk where the wagon had come to rest. I listened as my kids recalled their ride careening down that hill. “Wasn’t this hill a lot steeper then?” they asked.
Experience can be a great teacher. God will bring us through trial. We will have times when all we know may be tested AND there will be times when the only thing to do is take the ride. The adventure may be scary and full of unknowns yet the One who holds the handle is not letting go.
The One who has called you is Faithful and He will do it.
And I believe, one day you will look back on this adventure and you will remember. You will remember the heaves and splits in the pavement, the trees that lined the way and you will remember the fear you felt going forward.
Yet more importantly, you will remember His faithfulness. You will see how He brought you to the end of the ride. He never let go of the handle and He will continue to bring you to a place of abundance.
Jump into the conversation:
- What adventure are you facing right now?
- Share with us an adventure where you have seen God’s faithfulness?
- How can we pray for you?
Linking up with Kate Motaung and the gang over at Five Minute Friday. If you’d like to join us, click here. Our word prompt today is: FEAR
Tripping Over Typeset 
Oh wow! Thanks for such great reminders about facing fears! I’m beginning a new phase in my journey…a new work venture and it’s scary at times!! Thanks for reminding me about perspective and that the ride is more like an adventure!!!
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You are welcome! I will pray for you as you move forward in this new adventure! :). Thanks for jumping in and sharing! Happy Friday to you!
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Rachel- Oh, I remember doing that as a kid— and being so scared! But I love your take on how we grow out of these fears when we grow up in Christ. These lines pack the punch: “Yet more importantly, you will remember His faithfulness. He will see how He brought you to the end of the ride. He never let go of the handle and He will continue to bring you to a place of abundance.” Amen! Great post, and Happy Friday!
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Thank you, Karen! It’s awesome to look back on our journey and see Him working. It gives strength to journey on! Thanks for jumping in and sharing! Happy Friday to you!
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I remember those wagon rides too, Rachel. And then my kids took them at my mom’s house with the same old red wagon, only I didn’t lead them down, they’d go solo, and THAT scared me. But I trusted and they were safe. 🙂
Yes to this: We remember His faithfulness and it builds our faith.
My adventure: a 9 month relocation to Dallas, Texas starting August 8th!
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Wow! What an adventure! I will be praying for you and your exciting adventure to Dallas! Hope we get to read about some of it in your writings! Thanks for jumping in and sharing!
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So much THIS: “Yet more importantly, you will remember His faithfulness. You will see how He brought you to the end of the ride. He never let go of the handle and He will continue to bring you to a place of abundance.” God does hold onto the handle. And yes experience can be such a great teacher for us all! Visiting from FMF where I’m #8 this week!
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Thank you for jumping in and sharing! I’m hopping on over to see you there! 🙂 #8 spot!
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Psalm 66:10 is one of my favorite verses and brings to mind several scary adventures where I have experienced God’s faithfulness. One such adventure happened last year during our vacation in the Adirondacks. Lightning struck our campsite during a storm, hitting several trees, our cars and my husband. Our cars were badly damaged but PTL hubby is alive and well to tell about the experience and in a couple of weeks we plan to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in our favorite place – the Adirondacks. We’re renting a cabin though, instead of tenting 🙂
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Yes! That is definitely a testimony of God’s protection in your life! What an adventure! Congrats on 30 years…woot, woot! 🙂 and what a great way to celebrate! I love the Adirondacks!
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I had to have a CT scan this morning in the now year-long saga of liver damage. Your post is an excellent reminder that God has been, is now and will always be with me. Whatever happens, He holds me close!
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Your adventure through this year has been long with many bumps, obstacles and trees lining the way… I’ve followed it a bit on your blog. And yes, He continues to be faithful to you! What a great part of the story! Thanks for jumping in and sharing! 🙂
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Amen! God is always faithful and he will always carry us through those times when we are fearful/terrified/immobile. He loves us perfectly, and he promises that his will will cast out all our fears.
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Yes, I was thinking a bit about you and your recent adventure on the bikes. We never know what a day will held yet we do know He will bring us through it! Thanks for jumping in and sharing! 🙂
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