“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5
Watching my son, Christiano, navigate the Howler’s Peak Ropes Course at Great Wolf Lodge was an inspiring lesson in trust. From the start, he was confident. The staff showed him how his harness would hold him securely, giving him a newfound sense of assurance. He tackled the tightropes and balancing obstacles, relying on the harness without a second thought. But when he reached the zip line—the final challenge where only the harness would support him—he froze.
Suddenly, his confidence wavered. Dana and I encouraged him from below, cheering him on. But he would inch forward, then pull back, unsure if he could take that step. After nearly fifteen minutes and much prayer, Christiano finally let go and zipped across. The entire pool erupted in applause. It was a triumphant moment, but when I asked him afterward why he hesitated, his words struck me: “Dad, I didn’t know if I could trust the harness.” I reminded him that he had trusted it through each obstacle, but when he faced a situation where it was his only support, that trust wavered.
How often are we just like that with God? In life, we walk through situations where we know His Word is true, where we see His hand guiding us, and we feel supported. But when we face times where God alone is our support, fear can take over. We wonder if He will really hold us up when every other safety net disappears.
Just as Christiano had to believe in his harness when he reached the zip line, we are called to rely on God, especially in the most challenging times. Scripture assures us that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1). Yet when we’re most vulnerable, we discover if our trust is as firm as we thought. God doesn’t just want us to trust Him on the easy, balanced path—He wants us to trust Him in the freefall moments too.
Today, may we be reminded that God is faithful in all situations, not just the ones we can control. Like Christiano eventually did, let’s take that step of trust, knowing that God is always ready to catch us.
So, I ask, what is your trust in?
Frank D