in honor of jumping out of a plane a few days ago… i am reminded of these words that i wrote a while back. holding onto the “how” really doesn’t benefit us the way that “yielding” can and will. skydiving will teach you that reeeeeally fast.
recently i got caught up in a whirlwind that is “next steps”. finding myself overwhelmed, the Father whispered “holding onto the ‘how’ is only hurting you. release it to Me.”
a few years ago before making the decision to come to Redding, i was in the same place. i remember sitting in a coffee shop when i found myself intimidated by what was ahead. as i wrestled with some of what the Lord was showing me about my future, i let the question of “how?” become bigger and bolder than His beautiful promises and purpose for my life. instead of having confidence in Him, i tried calculating how everything would work. in that moment, the Lord took me back to the first time i went skydiving.
i was thinking about the excitement that i had until i realized exactly what i was going to be doing… falling out of the sky intentionally. there were so many doubts and fears coming up. within seconds my mind was clinging to the worst case scenario.
i remember that as i focused on those details, fear crept in. there was a moment when i realized that i had to focus on the instructor rather than where i was headed. i had been trying to figure it all out before i was even up in the sky but the instructor told me he would direct me and remind me of what i needed to do once we jumped out.
the pressure was off for me to know what to do but the mystery was making itself known. i didn’t have to understand though. i just needed to trust him.
he knew i didn’t have all of the answers. he knew i wasn’t going to be able to do it on my own. as i trusted him and fully yielded, that fear turned into excitement.
the last thing he said to me before we dove into the sky was “HAVE FUN!”. the moment i jumped out of that plane, the fear was gone. i was at peace – full of wonder and joy.
it was one of the coolest experiences of my life. so fun that i’ve done it again since then.
the day that the Holy Spirit reminded me of this memory, i was convicted as i was thinking about how i could trust a random skydiving instructor that i had never met before that moment yet i couldn’t trust my Father who knows me and loves me more fully than anyone has ever known me or could ever love me. the God that promises to guide my steps, who promises to be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. the God who goes before me, the God who promises to never leave me nor forsake me. but it was also that day i was given the beautiful invitation to trust Him even if i didn’t know what was to come or didn’t understand how i was going to get to where He was taking me. even if i couldn’t see the full picture, the Holy Spirit was still going to give me clarity and vision not confusion. even if there was mystery, i was able to embrace it and trust Him. choosing to release the “how” to Him because holding onto it is exhausting, heavy and simply gets me nowhere. choosing to stop calculating and rather putting my confidence in Him. choosing to yield fully, allowing Him to speak to me in the midst of the journey, guiding, leading, protecting. choosing to let God be God in my life. there is joy in the journey when we trust Him with all of our being. when we trust that we are in the palm of His hand and He is who He says He is, not only do we realize how much pressure is taken off of us but we find joy as we get to partner with Him.
again and again. daily. questions arise and i am given the invitation for fresh surrender. an invitation for finding Him in the present moment and letting Him lead me. my eyes have been opened to the reality of the One in front of me. it’s Him. Jesus is the prize. He is the one i am in pursuit of. just yield, annie. it isn’t easy, so many questions and doubts fighting for my attention but one glance at Him and surrender it is.
there is so much mystery in this journey with Him but i wouldn’t want it any other way. God is more interested in the journey than the destination. i have no idea what next year will look like or what the next step is for me but my eyes are locked in on Him. He is faithful. only He can take me to where i am going. and so i yield. i yield to the lover of my soul. i yield to Jesus. i yield to the Good Shepherd whose leadership is perfect.
there is so much joy in this journey when we choose to wildly trust Him.”
and this time around, as i went skydiving and jumped out of the plane, i can easily say it was the best yet. i watched intently as the instructor hooked me up and made everything safe, yes. i listened as he told me my part, yes. but the rest was simply “routine” for him and a part of his job. i got to lean back, jump out and enjoy the BEAUTIFUL view.
yield, surrender, walk in step. whether skydiving or figuring out your next steps, release the “how”. trust God who carries promises to guide, direct, lead, carry, and protect. to be a lamp and a light.
trust in the Lord completely, and do not rely on your own opinions. with all your heart rely on him to guide you, and he will lead you in every decision you make. proverbs 3:5
JOY IN THE JOURNEY! JOY IN YIELDING! JOY IN SURRENDER!
annie snyder 