Bridges (When Your Fears Become Smaller Than Your Faith)

I used to be scared of bridges.

I won’t tell you why I was scared of them, except that I once saw a bridge collapse on TV and it was all over from there.

But since I live in a city on an island, I have to go over bridges all the time. We’re talking every single day. And so for a long time I held my breath, prayed my way over, and thanked the Lord when I got to the other side.

Then one day as I was praying my way over an especially large bridge, I realized I was praying to a God who walked on water. He was an expert at holding things up.

And at some point after that I realized that almost always if we want to get from where we are to where we’re going, we’re going to have to cross a bridge. 

Not just the kind that goes over water. I’m talking about facing our fears – whatever they may be, letting God carry us through them safely, and thanking God when we get to the other side.

Last week I was at an event with an amazing entrepreneur who launched a not-for-profit organization that gives men and women a second chance in life. Twenty-two of us were there to learn how to develop our dreams. And one of the questions she asked us is, “What are you afraid to give up?”

What are your fears?

Right now I’m four days away from jumping ship, leaving my job, and starting on a new entrepreneurial thing. And in this phase God’s reminding me to be brave. Because earlier this year I committed to following Jesus, and sometimes that means giving something up to grab a hold of something even better.

I’m excited. I’m tired. I desperately want a week-long nap and a ladies weekend with Steph before I officially take on this new thing. And I have a to-do list a mile-long and no idea how it’s going to get done. But I’m grabbing Jesus’ hand and we’re going to walk over a few bridges. And I’m praying that I remember to pray my way through every single step we take and say thank You the entire time.

Because there’s this, and because I’ve never been more certain that our God is an expert at getting us to the other side.

Small Yeses to the Next Thing translate to Huge Yeses and New Things in the Kingdom of God. – Ann Voskamp, foreword, Rhinestone Jesus by Kristen Welch

While I’m walking through this, I want to know your story. Where is Jesus taking you over a few metaphorical bridges in your life? Where has He done it before? When it comes to following your dreams, what are you afraid to give up to get to the other side?

linking up with a harvest of blessing for a jack of all trades

Original photo by hotblack from morguefile.com. Adapted for this blog post by Stephanie Oh.