One of my fondest memories on the farm as a child was when my Papa would break out the slip n’ slide in the front yard draping it down the fastest hill I had yet to know. As I look back, the hill looks smaller, the slip n’ slide isn’t as long as I thought as a child and the fear of breaking a hip has most certainly ceased the slip n’ slide days. This of course does not prevent me from purchasing one for my own children over the weekend – a secret hope to relive those simpler times through their eyes. As I threw out that thin bright yellow piece of plastic and hooked up the water, I could see my ten-year-old a little disappointed that the slide wasn’t longer. I could see that she was most certainly not impressed but did enjoy the break from the heat. I then watched my four-year old’s eyes light up with excitement as he ran as fast as his legs would allow just to land in a puddle of cold grassy water at the end. In that moment God reminded me just how life can also be a slip n’ slide.

There are times we stand back and look at the path ahead and feel defeated, there are times when we think there should be more and there are also times where the joy of what’s ahead looks so refreshing and thrilling that the risk of stepping out and letting go doesn’t even enter our minds. As I watched my son thrust himself full force onto the hard ground (ouch!) I thought about how many times I truly let go and surrendered my own fears to God. It was never the times that I tried to hold on, walked carefully and strived to control the entire situation that brought about the greatest adventures. It was truly the times in the life of Dennis and I that we committed to the process, trusted God and allowed the living water to carry us to the promise that mean the most. Without the water, the slide would be useless – it was only when we added the water that the journey down was made smoother and a lot more enjoyable. Do not allow the friction of this world to slow you down, friend. You will only be able to survive life’s twists, turns, slips and slides if you continuously stay in the Word and allow the grace of the water to move you forward.

Do we sometimes get hurt during the times of slips – of course. “But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well-nigh slipped.” Psalm 73:2. The slips and slides of life can sometimes cause our hearts to also fall from our Father – we don’t spend time in prayer, we quit reading our Bible, we allow other things to take the place of our praise. The slippery slope of feeling like God is far from you is exactly where the enemy likes us to be. Of course, that cheap talk from satan is no match for God! Just as my little ones slipped, fell down, got back up, laughed, shed a few tears and fought exhaustion – my eyes were always upon them. I was there to catch the little laughs, and I was also there to kiss the boo-boos that didn’t stop them living in the moment.

Even when you aren’t having all the fun you hoped or maybe you’ve fallen more times than you wanted, you must remain in the truth and commit to this ride called life. It is time to run as fast as you can toward the Water and begin to see just how far God will carry you – it might land you right where you’ve always prayed to be.

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.” Hebrews 2:1.

Blessings, Kayla