I do not normally pay attention to the ramblings of characters on sit-com television. However, one has stayed with me. “Maybe you keep falling because you know you are only six inches off the ground and you can fall safely. Maybe you need to be high, to know it is unsafe, to not fall.” One character was trying to do something dangerous. The only sure outcome was that he was going to hurt himself. In reality, life often works that way.
Am I willing to take on something where I know I can fail and it will hurt? The question that follows is this; who has my back? If so, would I then be willing to risk where failure was an option?
The challenge lies in knowing who has my back. Human beings are just that human, they fail. Institutions have rules and process; rarely do they appear to step in when needed. I want to trust God, but what am I trusting. An avid follower expressed his doubts about it all. “Don’t hide from me now! You’ve always been right there for me; don’t turn your back on me now. Don’t throw me out, don’t abandon me; you’ve always kept the door open.” (Psalm 27.9) Am I any different?
I do not have all the answers. What I do know is there are actions that I can take that help me trust. They include the following.
Build a memory bank of moments where God and others came through. Write them down. Reflect on them. Let their actions permeate your heart so that each experience becomes something you can never forget.
Look for opportunities to trust. Let others have a chance. Presuming that your back is covered creates an opening for help. Be careful not to be absolute in your expected outcomes. Even when your back is covered, you can get hurt.
Ask for help. Ask others, including God, to cover your back. Look for the evidence. Be open to how it may appear.
God is actively present, even if it does not seem like it.
