Real Hope: TrustSample

A Father’s Arms

A stunning Aussie summer’s day. The backyard pool.

All the older kids, and a few of the dads and uncles as well, are having the inevitable ‘bomb-dive comp’ much to the delight of the rest of the gathering.

As they watch on laughing, they get splashed by all the shenanigans. Off to one side in the pool we see a loving dad, arms outstretched, face beaming with encouragement. A metre away at the water’s edge is one of his toddler-aged children. Their toes hesitantly get closer and closer to the edge with their arms, floaties and all, outstretched towards Dad with a mixture of fear and excitement. There are a couple of false starts. ‘Come on… you can do it. I’ve got you… come on… jump… I’ll catch you…I’ve got you’. The focus of the group changes until all are now watching this little one. All are aware that this is a first-time experience for this little cutie. They all encourage them to jump to their father. Come on… jump, jump! You can do it!!

I am sure that nearly all of us have been that child, or that parent, or at least witnessed something like this.

Sometimes we can feel like we are on the edge of something, wanting so much to leap into the unknown but gripped by fear, uncertainty and doubt. Just like that toddler, we need to take that leap, trusting that our loving heavenly Father will always be there, arms outstretched.

It may be our first time but for God it’s not. He knows the outcome and we need to trust that He is, and always will be, there for us.

Come on… jump, jump! You can do it!!

Written by ROBBIE PARKIN