I am in the middle of a tightrope strung taut across a deep canyon. If I were to look down, I could not see the bottom, only the rushing current of the river below. At times the water crashes against boulders in the river with so much force that I am misted by the spray. I realize that I am currently standing over the deepest part of the canyon and have no form of harness or safety equipment. The volume of the waves and current crashing below me and the strong winds gusting through the canyon make it difficult to hear much of anything else.
I hear myself say, "Lord, you are my strength and my pillar. I will not look to the left or to the right."
At that moment a spot of light appears above the ground on the other side of the canyon, and my Father's voice says to me, "Child, take one step at a time and do not remove your eyes from that spot. If you lose sight of that spot by looking to the left or the right, you will surely fall. I have equipped you for success by becoming your strength. With me you have the strength and endurance to push beyond the wind and waters, to remain balanced in a gust of wind, and to take each step forward with confidence. Do not look away from the place I have provided for you."
With that I spread my arms, lift my chin, and fix my eyes on the spot of light. I know that looking down would cause me to doubt God's strength and fall to the river and rocks. I take one step at a time, pausing to right myself when the wind gusts try unsteady me or a spray of river water assaults me. I never once remove my eyes from the spot of light on the other side of the canyon. Slowly, but with confidence in the strength of my God, I make my way across the tightrope. As I reach the other side, I hear my Father ask me to stop before placing my feet on solid ground.
"Daughter," he says, "I want you to life a prayer of praise and worship before you step into the promise I have prepared for you." So I do, right there on the tightrope, only one step away from solid, secure ground.
As I praise my God with humility for the strength and endurance to reach my promise, I see clouds part and the spot of light grow to reveal the enormity of God's reward for my trust. He says, "Daughter, this is all yours because you placed your trust in my strength and endurance, accepting with humility your weakness, and were obedient to worship me before laying hold of your blessings. Others have not been as fortunate as you because they reach this side and never take the moment to acknowledge whose strength got them here. Their blessing remains limited by their desire to maintain a degree of control in their walk with me. But you, Daughter, have trusted me completely, so now step into the blessing I have prepared for you. I love you, Child. Welcome home."
As I take that last step onto solid ground, the expanse I see before me grows another ten times larger. There are sparkling waterfalls, large pastures with grazing animals, mountains pointing to the sun, meadows full of flowers, and a brook winding by with jumping fish. The peace and serenity that encompass me are indescribable, unfathomable. I know that no effort of the enemy could touch me here, and without a doubt, I know I am experiencing what true freedom really is.
