Keep Moving

 I often stand in the hallway outside my classroom at church watching the children arrive with their parents for drop off.  One thing I've seen happen many times is a child happily strolling down the hallway holding mom or dad's hand until they see their fate begin to unfold.  

Suddenly, the parent will feel their arm jerk backwards as the child stopped moving.  The child isn't taking one more step towards the unknown.  Then the parent will prod the child to keep moving.  The parent will get down at the child's level to reassure her that everything is okay.  Mommy and Daddy are near, but the child isn't having any of that!  

If only they would keep moving, we all know it's going to be okay in this safe place where they will learn and experience God, but the child is paralyzed with fear.  

In our spiritual journey, it can be the same.   When troubles come into our lives we can quickly become just like a fearful child who stops moving forward.  God will feel His arm jerk backwards as we become immobilized with fear even letting go of God's hand.  That fear comes into our lives by way of trail, temptation, sickness or even experiences of our own making.  Still, the result is the same, we stop moving forward.  

If you have ever traveled around the United States you know that this country is made up of many different types of terrain.  There are rivers, deserts, oceans, mountains, swamps, prairies and valleys.  As we journey through life, we can be sure of this, things are going to continually change...that is...unless we refuse to keep moving.  

One of my favorite scriptures is found in Isaiah 43:1-5 NET

“Don’t be afraid, for I will protect you.  I call you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I am with you; when you pass through the streams, they will not overwhelm you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you...Since you are precious and special in my sight, and I love you, I will hand over people in place of you, nations in place of your life.  Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.”

This week you may be facing something that has caused you to stop moving forward.  You may feel like you are frozen in place, unable to move or you may feel like running in the opposite direction.  Take courage, God's Word says, "Keep Moving."    And it’s not without this promise…I am with you!