Yesterday at my horse-riding lesson I had one of my first falls in a very long time. Actually it was a lesson on how to fall well as I was bucked off and went straight over my horses head to land on the back of my head, and then rolled neatly out of the way. Fortunately the arena is full of soft sand so not too much damage was done.
The key to taking a fall of any kind, and especially a fall from a horse is that you have to make a decision pretty much then and there. Will I walk away and allow the fall to discourage and intimidate me from getting back on and trying again, or will I check myself over for any damage; promptly dust myself off and choose to get right back on that horse again?
I recommend the latter because when we are okay to get back on and try again it does serve to help us overcome our fears and hesitancies in the future. For it’s often in dusting ourselves off and getting back out there after a fall, disappointment or heartache that aids in our recovery and overcoming of the more difficult things in life.
However it’s vital to our recovery and moving forward to remember that we have to leave the disappointment, hurt or fall behind us once we get back up again. Essentially we must mentally, spiritually and emotionally choose to let the negative experiences go no matter how difficult. If we keep playing them over and over in our heads and hearts we will inadvertently tense up, lose focus and fail to learn from our mistakes and unfortunate incidents. Instead we can end up doing the same things all over again, instead of living, learning and moving on.
C.S. Lewis wisely said, “Getting over a painful experience is much like crossing monkey bars. You have to let go at some point in order to move forward.”
Painful experiences, whether they be a failure, broken relationship, loss, mistake, disappointment or something that caused fear or worry in our life doesn’t need to define who we are or our futures. God wants us to know that He is there to help us. If we allow Him He will give us the strength and resolve to get back up, to dust ourselves off and to move forward in life instead of getting stuck in our past. We do however have to let go of the negatives so that we can boldly choose to live, learn and carry on.
Today whatever you circumstances know that God is with you. He wants to help you to keep moving forward and promises to give you all the strength you need to be the person you were created to be. So with His help today dust yourself off and get back out there again!
“I can do all thing through Christ who gives me strength“. (Philippians 4:13)
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be 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)
“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)
Prayer: Lord thankyou that you promise to hold and help me to overcome. Please help me to get back up whenever I may suffer a knockback and to keep moving forward into all that you have made me to be. In Jesus name Amen.
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