Our family LOVES going to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO! It so fits our family-friendly, Christian-values idea of fun. And there is so much for the boys to do.
One of their favorite areas is Half Dollar Holler. And one of their favorite things to do there is climb through and jump around in the suspended netting of the “treehouse.” At least, it’s one of their favorite things now.
It wasn’t always Austin’s favorite.
Last night, we sat around watching “old” home videos (from three or four years ago) with the boys. Captured on video was Austin trying to enjoy the treehouse but with great trepidation. It was obvious that he was unsure of the safety of that netting suspended ten feet above solid earth.
As we watched, Austin told us that he used to be afraid of the bouncing treehouse at Silver Dollar City because he was afraid he would fall, but that he’s not now. Sure enough, were you to watch more recent videos or travel with us to SDC, you’d find him tearing through there with no hesitation whatsoever.
I asked Him if he reason that he’s not afraid anymore is because he knows if it will hold me up, it will hold him up. (I mean, I might weigh a little more than he does. Wink, wink.) I must admit that I was a little shocked when he replied, “No, it’s because I’ve been on it enough times now that I know it will won’t let me down.”
Tested, tried, true.
Reliable, dependable, trustworthy.
Because it has never let him down before, he has unwavering faith that it will never let him down in the future. And with that, I sat back in my seat, having been schooled in faith by my six-year old.
In Deuteronomy 31:8, Moses… the guy who led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, through forty years of wandering in the wilderness, and all the way to the edge of the land promised to the Israelites by God… looks Joshua… his successor who will actually lead those people into conquest of their homeland… in the eyes and tells him, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Never. It just won’t happen. God won’t let you down. He is incapable of failing you. And He chooses to never abandon or give up on you. He will go ahead of you and clear the path. Then He will be right beside you every step of the way.
We can trust God because He has never let us down. In fact, He has never let anyone down. So unlike those investment commercials on the radio, His past results are indicative of His future performance.
This means you and I can relax and enjoy the ride now. We don’t have to stress. We don’t have to panic. We can romp through life full of joy and hope and peace, knowing that He will neither fail us nor abandon us.
If you’re battling a lengthy illness, He won’t let you down. If you’re dealing with a difficult divorce, He won’t let you down. If you’re having trouble passing that class at school, He won’t let you down. If the bills are stacking up higher than the paychecks, He won’t let you down.
So go ahead… climb the steep ramp of the treehouse of life… crawl into the netted area… and jump with confidence alongside Austin… because it hasn’t let him down before and it isn’t going to let him down this time either.
Neither will God.
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