Are You Ready to Take the Leap? - Sharon Jaynes
I was sitting on the balcony of a condominium at the beach with my computer in my lap. It was time to write the conclusion for my book 5 Dreams of Every Woman: And How God Longs to Fulfill Them. And to be honest, I wasn’t sure how to end it.
In the background I listened to the excited squeals and splashes of children as they played in the swimming pool below.
One particular little girl caught my attention. She appeared to be about six years old and wore bright yellow water wings wrapped around her arms like blood pressure cuffs. As she stood on the side of the pool nervously flapping her arms, her daddy was poised in waist deep water with his arms outstretched.
“Come on honey, you can do it,” he coached. “Go ahead and jump. I’m right here.”
“But I’m scared,” she whined and flapped. “You might not catch me.”
“Don’t be afraid. I’m right here,” he encouraged her.
“But you might move,” she cried.
“I’m not going to move. I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” he assured her.
This bantering went on for at least 15 minutes. I was amazed at the father’s patience and persistence. But finally, she jumped! Applause went up all around the pool and the condominium balconies! By the end of the morning, the little girl was swimming like a minnow and making her way across the once seemingly treacherous waters.
As I watched her, God spoke to my heart. Sharon, sometimes you’re that little girl.
And suddenly I began to see myself standing on the edge of the ocean of God’s dreams for my life.
“Come on honey, you can do it,” my Heavenly Father calls. “Go ahead and jump. I’m right here.”
“But I’m scared,” I cry. “You might not catch me.”
“Don’t be afraid, my child. I’m right here.”
“But You might move,” I cry.
“I’m not going to move. I’m your Father. I’m not going to let anything happen to you,” He assures me.
You know what? [tweetherder]I’ve learned to jump in with both feet, but never let go of God’s hand.[/tweetherder]
As women, we all have dreams hidden in our hearts and God, our heavenly Father longs to fulfill them.
“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ, and so through him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Jesus fulfills all our dreams when we will place our hand in His hand, our hopes in His keeping, and our dreams in His tender care.
[tweetherder]“Things which the eye has not seen and the ear has not heard, and which have not entered the heart of man – all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).[/tweetherder] And friend, that is you!
What do you think keeps us from “jumping in” to all God has for us? What do you think holds us back? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment and let’s toss around some of the hindrances that keep us from jumping in. I’m going to randomly pick one comment and give away a free copy of mynew Girlfriends in God book, Knowing God by Name!
Want More?
One of the things that I think holds us back is the lie that we’re not good enough, smart enough, or talented enough. Girfriend, it is time to stop believing the lies and embrace the truth of who you are as a child of God. If this is something that you need some help with, my book I’m Not Good Enough…and Other Lies Women Tell Themselves can help you start believing in and standing on the truth.
