Have you ever tried to take up a new hobby that you were “sure” you could get the hang of, but you soon realized you couldn’t? If so, did you leave that “new hobby” feeling frustrated and defeated? The other day, my friend and I decided to try to go ice skating, and though I’d never even stepped foot in a skating rink before, I was sure I could easily get the hang of this new sport. HA!!!! I probably ate the ice about 20 times, and every time I fell, someone would come to me and ask if I was okay… which was just embarrassing! I was incredibly frustrated, and the entire time I was “skating”, I was holding on to the side of the ice rink.

About halfway through my skating experience, one guy said to me “You’re never going to learn if you keep holding on.” I jokingly told him that I was just trying to leave with all of my bones intact (I was actually partly serious.) He countered with these wise words: “When you hold on, you’re leaning backwards and that’s the reason you can’t stay upright. You’re unbalanced. You need to bend your knees, lean forward, and keep your focus forward. The reason you’re falling is because you’re holding on.”

I have to admit, when he said that I was a little annoyed at first. After all, I had just fallen about 2 dozen times on the ice – once right in front of him! The more I thought about it, though, I realized he was probably right and he was probably (definitely) a lot more knowledgeable than I was in this area. I also knew there was probably a Victory Call in there somewhere…

In your Christian walk, are you holding on to something that is consequently causing you to stumble? Are you trying to hold on to “justified” sin? Control? Bitterness? Anger? “Close” friendships with people who aren’t walking with the Lord? Whatever it may be, may I encourage you to leave it at the feet of Jesus and put your focus forward?

Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left. Keep your foot from evil. – Proverbs 4:25-27

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. – Philippians 3:13-14

“The reason you’re falling is because you’re holding on. You’re unbalanced. Keep your focus forward.” He didn’t realize that what he was saying to me would have a “spiritual” impact, but it’s not something I’ll forget anytime soon. In your spiritual life, is your focus forward, or are you holding on and leaning back? If it’s the latter, I want to encourage you to “Let Go and Let God.” It may be uncomfortable, it may be scary, and you may stumble a couple of times… but God’s got you. He won’t let you fall, and He will help you back up.

The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. – Psalm 37:23-24

Erin Culleny serves as a Marketing Assistant and Staff Writer. She loves encouraging women through her Victory Calls and finds such joy in praying for her sisters in Christ. Her favorite activities include reading her Bible, encouraging others with scripture, buying new makeup, buying dresses, and eating at the Cheesecake Factory… In that order!