It’s Like Riding a Bike - Part 1

Fear and Shadows

“It’s like riding a bike.” Maybe you’ve heard this phrase before? I’ve heard it used many times when someone is trying to describe the ease of picking something back up. Recently, I had the joy of reteaching my 8-year-old how to ride after a two-year hiatus. Yikes, I know, that’s a long break! However, in just 3 to 4 days, she was back to zooming around like she had never stopped!

As much as this was an achievement for her, it surfaced a few internal struggles that I know I have wrestled with, and maybe you have too. My prayer is that as we journey through these three reflections that the Lord made real to me, we would recognize His invitation through the Holy Spirit. What should feel like riding a bike, something familiar and assured, often requires an intentional return to trust. As we sit with Jesus in these areas of our lives, I pray that grace would rest upon us, that we would take inventory, make necessary adjustments, and establish rhythms that lead us into greater victory as sons, daughters, and friends of God.

Fear and Shadows

As my daughter worked to regain confidence in her ride, I was trailing behind her, fully supporting her success. At one point, she glanced beside her and noticed my shadow. At the sight of how close it appeared, she quickly became frightened and lost control of her steering.

I was confused because she had been doing so well.

“What happened?” I asked.

She simply replied, “I got scared. I saw how close your shadow was.”

Her honesty in that moment struck me deeply. It reminded me of how often, in a moment of overconfidence, I’m prone to take my eyes off Jesus, only to be startled by a shadow.

So what is a shadow? In this case, I’d describe it this way: something that has size but no strength. Something that appears often but has no power to act.

How often have I misinterpreted something in my life that merely appeared to be a threat? How often have I become fearful of a shadow and fallen off course?

This reminds me of the twelve spies sent to scout the land that God had promised His people. Two were full of faith in what God had said, while the other ten spread a bad report about the people they saw there:

“We seemed like grasshoppers in OUR OWN EYES, and we looked the same to them.” (Numbers 13:33, NLT)

Yes, they saw real people, but compared to the promise of God, everything else was merely a shadow. An entire generation allowed their fear of these "giants," a minuscule issue in comparison to God’s word and power, to cost them the promise prepared for them.

Holy Spirit, give us the awareness and grace to identify the shadows in our lives.

Maybe as you have been reading, the Holy Spirit has helped you identify a few.

I remember a season not too long ago when the Lord was calling me into restoration spiritually and relationally. At the same time, I faced concerns with my physical health. Doctors' reports tried to dictate otherwise. It was a process of appointments, tests, eliminating possibilities, and battling fear, anxiety, and worry.

But in seeking, surrendering, and returning my heart to full obedience to God, in His kindness, He began speaking His words of purpose and destiny over me through so many spiritual mentors and friends. That was when I realized the real issue was not what was appearing in the reports. It was whose report I was going to allow to take precedence in my heart.

In Jesus’ name, Holy Spirit, teach us and train us to take captive every thought that raises itself against the knowledge of Christ.

Tear down every stronghold that comes after the destiny You have designed for us to walk in. Help us demolish every obstruction that seeks to hinder us from worshiping Jesus in spirit and truth. Strengthen us not to give way to the fear of shadows.

As I was writing, this acronym came to me. I hope it serves as a helpful way to recognize the shadows that try to hold us back:

S(trong) H(olds) A(fter) our D(estiny) by O(bstructing) us from true W(orship)

Next week, we will continue this journey by confronting another challenge that can pull us off course: distractions. What happens when our focus shifts from the path ahead to the eyes watching us? Stay tuned for Part 2: "Distractions."