Walking beside the lake the other day, I encountered a family on bicycles: father, daughter, and younger son about six years old. The little boy was obviously new to bike-riding, for his father was holding onto the seat and keeping it steady, all the while riding beside him. This is the exchange I heard:
“I’m going to set you free,” says Dad.
“I don’t want to be free!”
“You’re free! You’re free!”
And sure enough, perhaps to his surprise, the child rode along the path without falling. When he felt as if he might fall, he put his feet down, and then his father held onto him and started him off again.
Isn’t this often the way we are with God? “I’m going to set you free,” says God, holding us tight. “I’m going to set you free from old, less mature ways of being that are hindering your growth in my love.”
“But I don’t want to be free!” we exclaim, afraid to lose what we know, afraid of being left with nothing.
Nevertheless God gives us a push and off we go. Amazing! We wobble, we have moments of panic — but occasionally we soar! Of course, God has never left us and is right there beside us in case we do fall, which we sometimes do. And even when God gives us a push toward greater freedom, God never, ever, lets go of us.
For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”
(Isaiah 41:13)