TRUST

Monday, August 29, 2011 - Comments 6

By Valerie Cunningham

Sitting at the table eating lunch together, my eight-year-old daughter asked, “Mama, when are we going rock wall climbing again?”

This was not a random question. You see, every year my husband, daughter, and a couple of close friends and I celebrate my anniversary in recovery from my Eating Disorder by going rock wall climbing. I had never before been rock wall climbing until I was in treatment. One morning they marched us out to the rock wall for this physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional exercise. It was a life-changing experience that I will never forget. Thus, every year on my anniversary, I commemorate my recovery by trying to re-create this unforgettable moment. It had only been four months since our last climb, so we still had some time to go before our next venture.

I proceeded to explain this to my girl, and then added, “You know, I get really scared rock wall climbing. It frightens me.”

“Well, you are locked in to the rope. If you fall, it will catch you,” she said, quite confidently. 

“It’s the rope I don’t trust!” I exclaimed. 

“Well mom, then you just need to trust God. He will protect you. And if something did happen, then at least you’ll go to heaven!”

Wow! I was blown away by the wisdom in this little girl’s words. Moreover, I was amazed by her faith. She was right. I did just need to trust God. This got me thinking. What other things did I just need to trust God in? My finances, my relationships, my recovery and issues with food… My list continues to grow. 

Jesus said in Matthew 17:20, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

It is so easy to go through the motions of the day, without giving a second thought that the Creator of the Universe has us in the palm of His hand, regardless of whether we are rock wall climbing or washing dishes.

Just trust God. Out of the mouths of babes.

Valerie Cunningham is a wife and homeschool mom. She is in her 6th year of recovery from a 22 year battle with anorexia. Currently she leads a support group for disordered eaters at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.