By Esih Efuru
When children first learn to swim, the experience is intimidating. They wail in fear, their tiny feet search for foundation, their arms flail about as they reach frantically for mom or dad. Some embrace the dare with eyes affixed upon their parents, and settle into the blue shortly thereafter, worry worn but reassured by the ones they know and trust. Others refuse, and run back to the security of concrete platforms and sandy shores, choosing instead to try courage out on the next round.
The Bible chronicles a similar occurrence between Jesus and Peter, in which Jesus beckons Peter out of a boat and to him by way of the water. Peter makes his way to Jesus, but is distracted by the wind and instead panics. He cries out to Jesus, who challenges his doubt after rescuing him. Jesus knew what Peter didn’t in that moment: he was always safe, and all Peter had to do was look ahead and trust the face of God.
Trust is certainly easier said than done when you’re afraid of sinking. When your heart has been held by those you love and trust and then suddenly dropped or abandoned, it’s even more difficult to take a risk. However, the risk is where you find your true self, where the person you thought you were supposed to be meets the person you were called to be. The real you, the one who is called to greatness, meets the risk head-on, head high, and conquers the F.E.A.R. (false evidence appearing real). When you embrace trust and couple it with the power already stored within you, you lose the tendency to look down. Your soul is affixed to the power of the present and the joy of your future. Fear doesn’t have a chance to drown you.
Your foundation is set. God has already mapped out your success path. Turbulence and demolitions are casualties of the humanity parade, but mere distractions for you, the great and chosen one. You must hold your heart up, look ahead and put fear and all other love-repellents in their proper place: beneath your feet. Don’t ever look down when you are headed to your next level of power, for you will find more ahead of you than you will below or behind you.
Esih Efuru, a 43 year old writer, artist and minister, is raising a daughter in Charlotte, NC. Email her esihefuru@gmail.com
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