We took turns pushing each other and sailed back and forth through the air.
The young kids on our street enjoyed swinging on the big oak tree at the back corner of our property. It sat on a gentle slope near the woods and had a hand ring tied at the end of a long rope.
As Mom and I strolled around the yard one day, she swung me on that old tree swing. “Push me higher,” I hollered as the breeze pressed against my face. Then the unexpected happened. My hands slipped, and I fell to the ground, landing flat on my stomach.
I glanced into my mom’s face. She stared at me, frozen in panic. I couldn’t breathe, and she couldn’t speak. The fall knocked the wind out of me. As I rolled over, my breath finally returned. Poor Mom. She was distraught but incredibly grateful her little girl was okay—just many scratches and bruises.
Social norms push and pull us in all directions as we go about our daily lives. They tempt and tug at us. The surrounding noise and conflict often distract us from what God desires for us. Then we try to balance all the confusion with our values and beliefs.
Standing up for Jesus takes courage. His disciples faced pressure to abandon their faith. They were attacked and run out of towns and villages. They were even mistreated and suffered for their beliefs. But with courage, they learned to be strong and stand firm in their faith. The Bible describes how victory came in the end.
I could easily be led in the wrong direction. But through my faith in God and studying the Scriptures, I, with God’s help, stay on a straight path.
How can you maintain the courage to follow God’s path when pushed?
(photo courtesy of pixabay.com.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Karen Huffaker is now a breakthrough freelance Christian writer after working many years writing and editing in the corporate/legal world. She has taught children’s Sunday school and single mom’s Bible studies and written poetry. She is from the deep South and loves reading Christian books, devotionals, genealogy adventures, fishing, and all things family. She is also passionate about her grandchildren’s sporting events.