To Quiet the Noise

The first time I even imagined going on a zipline excursion I was terrified. I had been told over and over that it was a lot of fun, that the views were amazing and that it was safe. I had watched videos of other people doing the different adventures hoping it would help calm my nerves. I even thought it would be easier if I did it with someone who had done it before. The amount of “noise” in my head that came from the worries and fears of trying this new and potentially dangerous activity was almost overwhelming. Some of the days before the reservation date came, the “noise” was louder than on other days. I think on those days even if someone was talking to me about how easy and safe it was I wouldn’t be able to hear them. In the end I knew if I was going to try a zipline experience I would have to get out and be with the ones that had the experience, which meant I had to somehow figure a way to hear their voices over the fears in my mind.

I would love to say the first time I ziplined that it was easy to step off the ledge. I could physically see that I was safe, I knew I had a harness on and that I was triple attached to safety devices, but my brain was trying to contemplate the fact I had to trust some college aged adrenaline junkie to make sure I arrived safely at the end of the course. It was a leap of faith, I had to listen to their voices and do as they instructed. The first course I did was in Alaska, the next two I did after that were in Hawaii and one on Catalina Island. Needless to say it was trusting the ones that knew the outcome was arriving safely at the end of the course while having as much fun along the way.

Fear has a way of ruling over us. It becomes a loud noise within our minds. Anger, pain and anxieties can be the same way. Sometimes we really can’t control the loudness. We wonder where God is in all of the noise. We wonder why our prayers are not being answered, and if maybe we are just not good enough for them to be answered. Jesus is always in the mix of everything. In Mark 6:45-52 Christ’s disciples were told to go to across the Sea of Galilee. The problem was they were rowing (actually for about 8 hrs) against strong headwinds and a major storm. They were getting nowhere and they were scared and tired. I can only imagine how loud it was being in that storm. They were doing what Christ had told them to do and yet they had major difficulties (the storm) preventing them from accomplishing their task. Now think about this, if Christ wanted to take away their difficulties He could have just prayed a prayer and calmed the storm, but instead what He does is what He will and does do for us. He went out to them. Not in a boat, but He did the miraculous and walked on water to get to them. So what does this tell us? We may beg, plead and pray that He take away the difficulties in our lives, but maybe what He wants to do instead is be there with us through the difficult times so that we may feel His presence and know He will be with us whether in good or bad times.

What if instead of taking that first leap of faith on the zipline course I decided instead to forgo the fear and anxiety and let the guides do the course for me. You know live vicariously through them? What if the disciples said “Nah, I don’t really want to get in that boat today Jesus, there might be a storm that harms us” What if? For me and the ziplining I wouldn’t have experienced an adventure with rope bridges, beautiful views and the thrill of the adventure. For the disciples, they would have missed out on the miracles of Jesus and seeing that He has the power to love, save and support. Sometimes when we want to hear Jesus the most, or have Him be near to us we need to lessen the noises in our heads, and realize that He has been with us the whole time in the quiet of a whisper, in the hug of a friend, or even in the leap of faith. Until next time:

If someone is on your mind, pray for them. God may have put them on your mind for a reason

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