Taking risks (where feet may fail)

A few weeks into summer break I took my mom and my two sons to the Verde Valley/Rimrock, AZ area for a road trip to see Montezuma’s Well and Montezuma’s Castle.

On day one we ventured just down the road from our inn to a small park with access from a barely-there path to Beaver Creek.

What awaited us took our breath away–tree-filtered sunshine, running water, rocks, dragonflies and scenery like something from the movies.

 

It was a far cry from the urban sprawl of southern Chandler and a welcome respite.

My mom and I planned to sit on the bank to relax and watch the kids explore but discovered that #1, they wanted to go beyond where we could see them from our post and #2, we wanted to join in the adventure.

I ventured in first, navigating the two-feet-deep rushing water to walk up and down the creek.

 

 

I was happily surprised when my mom (whom we refer to as “Safe Nana”) soon followed.

From the shore, she’d quickly realized she didn’t want to miss out on the fun so she found a large branch to use as a walking stick for stability as she made her way to us.

Once she reached me, I told her that I couldn’t help but think about the lyrics to “Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)” that she’d just recited at our joint Life Group on Tuesday {lyrics and YouTube link appear at the end of this post}.

“It may seem scary, but God always provides a way,” I grinned, pointing to her branch.

 

Beaver Creek wasn’t an inherently dangerous place but entering it certainly held risk. It would have been easy to sit in our comfortable lawn chairs on the creek bank and order the boys to stay close but instead we decided to get into the water.

The experience is one we won’t soon forget. We spent over an hour trailing after the boys as they swam, explored, and hunted for interesting rocks. They sometimes held our hands for balance and cheered us on as we scaled fallen limbs and narrow corners. We laughed, collected rocks, soaked in the sun and the cool breeze and marveled at God’s creation.

The whole time, the “Oceans” lyrics ran through my mind and I tried to memorize the moment.

 

It hit me that all the time, God asks us to step out and take a risk, big or small.

Many people never know the feeling of wondering if their feet may fail. But God wants to grow our faith. He wants us to go places we could never go on our own. He just needs for us to leave our comfortable perch and get our feet wet (or sometimes go so deep that our feet don’t touch). He’ll always provide a way. He is our guide and He never fails. Without taking that step of faith, we might never know what lies beyond the bend.

We just have to keep doing scary things.

Adventure awaits, and I hope I always answer the call.

“Ocean” lyrics

“You call me out upon the waters. The great unknown where feet may fail. And there I find you in the mystery, in oceans deep, my faith will stand. And I will call upon your name and keep my eyes above the waves. When oceans rise, my soul will rest in your embrace. For I am yours and you are mine. Your grace abounds in deepest waters. Your sovereign hand will be my guide. Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me…you’ve never failed and you won’t start now. Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you would call me. Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith would be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.”

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