Be Resurrected From Fear and Doubt
Many years ago I went on vacation to Cancun with my cousin Ray and we went snorkeling in front of our hotel. Ray was a more experienced swimmer and snorkeler, in fact it was my first time snorkeling in the ocean, and I was struggling to keep up. He motioned me towards an area where he saw some interesting fish.
All of a sudden, I realized I was in a strong current and it seemed to be taking me dangerously towards the breakwater and a bunch of large rocks and crashing waves. I tried to swim against the current and started panicking for air through the snorkel tube, so I ripped it off. Ray saw that the snorkel went sinking down and went down to catch it. Meanwhile, he didn’t notice me flailing my arms and legs in trouble. A young man on the beach saw me and swam out to pull me ashore. I sat on the sand, coughing up seawater. For me that felt like a near death experience.
That was a moment where I needed faith to return to the adventure of life as planned, to be resurrected so to speak so that we could continue to experience the wonderful nature of the warm crystal blue Caribbean waters, the reefs with their coral and the fish in all their colorful splendor. Experience and self-doubt screamed at me that I wasn’t very good at snorkeling and I might drown. But the old expression, “if you fall off the horse, you’ve got to get right back on” came to mind. I needed to increase my faith. So I went out and managed to enjoy, or at least complete, my first snorkeling adventure. We snorkeled in some much better spots later in the week and they were the highlight of the trip. Having just a little bit of faith in God and in the potential God gives each one of us made a difference.
Spiritual Practices for Today
Do you have fears and doubts? Imagine yourself conquering your fears and overcoming self-imposed limitations. Picture how God can lead you into ways of living God’s will.
Prayer of Encouragement
Pray: God of Safety and Strength, may I be resurrected in joy and peace to live my life in the present moment with courage and conviction. May the blessing of your strength always remind me to live with your will as the object of my hopes, dreams and actions. May I be blessed with just enough fortitude to overcome any obstacles that keep me from keeping my calling to accomplish your kingdom goals. Give me courage to cry out for justice and lift high the banner of peace. Forgive me when I falter and hide from you.
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
What word or phrase do you find yourself wanting to contemplate and explore in this passage?
How is this passage speaking to you today?
Daily Bread and Daily Prayer for Peace
Download or open the Community of Christ app on your smartphone or visit www.cofchrist.org to read today’s Daily Bread and Prayer for Peace. After reading the Daily Bread, consider these questions:
What is the main point made by the author?
How can this reflection help guide you in spiritual formation today?
Pray the Mission Prayer: God, where will your Spirit lead today? Help me be fully awake and ready to respond. Grant me the courage to risk something new and become a blessing of your love and peace. Amen.
2021 Guiding Question: Are we moving towards Jesus, the peaceful One?