Thunder Thighs and Baby Steps

  This week while I was trying to force encourage my daughter to walk, she finally got the courage to do it. She took her first steps!  If you’ve ever seen the size of my daughter’s thighs, you know the fact that she can stand on her own is pretty remarkable, but taking steps…now that’s quite a feat!  (I’m half-kidding here.  I mean seriously, who can resist a chunky baby? Especially one with a face like that!)

      I find watching babies learn to walk incredibly exciting and frustrating all at the same time.  Emersyn has been standing independently for quite some time now.  She can get herself to standing position from the middle of the floor, bounce on her toes, and even squat down.  Taking a few steps should really be no big deal.  And yet, it is.  (To me and to her.)  I know how proud she’ll be and the freedom she’ll gain by taking those steps.  Freedom to follow her big brother, play in the grass, and get into things and explore.  (Although, I don’t know about your kids, but mine seemed pretty capable of destroying my house as soon as they could crawl. Nah. I take that back, my kids have been taking over our house since they moved in.) 

      In the middle of one of our not so successful “practice sessions”, I had one of those thoughts that comes out of nowhere and slams into you like a two-ton brick.  My thought: My daughter will probably be in therapy one day because her mother pushed her too hard while learning to walk.  I’m kidding. Although it’s probably true.  My thought (for real this time): Is this how God feels watching us sometimes?  Is it excruciatingly frustrating for Him to just sit and watch and know how capable we are and yet we don’t.  Something keeps holding us back—fear, comfort, ignorance, pride…He knows what freedom we can have if we just take those first few steps. 

      I imagine God and I have similar thoughts as we’re encouraging our children to take those first few and crucial steps.  “I’m right here.  I am bigger, stronger, and watching out for anything that will come your way.  I can catch you.  I can help you up.  I will be the one to offer words of comfort and I will be cheering the loudest when you succeed. You can do it.”

      God really does have all of those thoughts.  God gives us this same pep talk through his word.

·         Hebrews 13:5—“…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

·         Romans 8:31&38-39—“…If God is for us, who can be against us?...For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God…

·         Psalm 54:4—“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.”

·         Isaiah 41:10—“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

·         Philippians 4:13—“I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”

So go on, friend! Take those first few steps.  And every time you see a chunky baby’s little thunder thighs, remember, God is patiently and excitedly waiting for you to take the next step in your faith.

Lord, thank you for your patience.  Thank you that you desire great things for my life.  Give me the courage to take those steps…wherever they lead.