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Jun 25, 2023 06:00am

Just Put Your Feet Down

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When my son was a toddler, there were two things that would send him clambering toward the top of my head. Swimming pools and dogs! To be fair he was only looking for a place that he felt that danger was far away from him and I’m not very tall, so my head is a reasonable destination. He thought the higher he went up the better, but what he didn’t understand was I couldn’t hold him safely in my arms unless he stayed where I could reach him. After we had been in the water or around the dog for a little while, I could talk him down, back into my arms, but each time it was the same scenario, over and over again.

I remember the summer he was tall enough to be able to stand up in the shallow end of the swimming pool. I was so excited he was not going to have to go through that fearful transition period going into the water, and I would be free to chase after his little sister (who fears nothing!). I talked about how excited I was that he was such a big boy, and he was tall enough to touch the bottom of the pool and stand up. I had him participating in that excitement, and all was going well. When we got to the pool, we began walking down the steps. I felt his little body latch onto me like a suction cup, and he began to cry and climb. Fortunately, I had put arm floats on his daredevil sister so she could remain safe while my son and I were going through that same dreaded scenario. Even now, I can envision the scene as I am holding him in my hands with arms outstretched, looking into his sweet little face, and begging him, “Sweetheart, everything is ok, I am not going anywhere, all you have to do is put your feet down.”

As I ponder the scene in my mind, I wonder, is this similar to how God feels as He deals with His children? Begging them to stand on the precious promises He has given, trusting them as a firm foundation of hope and peace? There are so many promises in Scripture which give us a firm foundation to stand on throughout our lives.

These “exceedingly great and precious promises” (2 Peter 1:4) cover the gamut of our human experiences.

There are promises of forgiveness for sins: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (I John 1:9). John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, shall not perish but have everlasting life.” These verses teach us that we only need to confess our sins and follow Jesus to be declared righteous before God and dwell with Him eternally.

There are many promises that speak to us when we are in fear but here are a few:
“I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” (Psalm 4:8)

“You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3)

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

When we are feeling weak, there are all kinds of promises to cling to:

“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
Just as my son, flailing in the water, only needs to put his feet down to find he can stand up. We can “put our feet down” on God’s numerous promises in Scripture.

Psalm 40:1-3 is my declaration of praise for God’s faithfulness in all things, it says, “I relied completely on the Lord, and He turned toward me and heard my cry for help. He lifted me out of the watery pit, out of the slimy mud. He placed my feet on a rock and gave me secure footing. He gave me reason to sing a new song, praising our God. May many see what God has done, so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!”