Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Chicken Soup for the Soul cocreators Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen with Chris Karcher
ABC's Dr. Timothy Johnson,
Finding God in the Questions, and Chris
.
Lee Strobel, The Case for a Creator, and Chris Karcher
Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Spiritual relationship help &
Building self esteem
Self-love
Change your focus from people to grace. It's key to overcoming the fear of other people's opinion.
My husband, Dave, is a daredevil. I am not. But because I am married to him, in an effort for togetherness, I have experienced adventure. I’ve slithered through two-foot openings to explore caves. I once flew in a sailplane, an aircraft without an engine. I’ve dangled off the end of ropes, scaled rock walls, and stepped backward off the edge of seventy-five-foot cliffs to rappel down them. Today, I wonder why anyone would want to step off the edge of a cliff.
One crisp fall day, Dave and I went rock climbing in the mountains of West Virginia. The sun illuminated the tapestry of reds, oranges, and yellows blanketing the mountains. It was one of those days you are glad to be alive, and I preferred to keep it that way. That’s why my heart was thumping.
We were on the exposed ledge of a steep drop. The climb itself was not rough, but the plunge would be if I missed my footing. Dave put me in a belay, meaning he tied a rope around me, secured it, and held the end of it. Should I tumble, Dave would break my fall because he was hanging onto the other end of the rope.
As soon as I hooked into the rope, my heart resumed a regular beat, and I climbed to the mountaintop with ease. I did not work at becoming less fearful. But I was no longer afraid because I had placed myself in Dave’s hands.
Whenever you have a mountain to climb, God extends His hand to help you. And He is there to break your fall.
John the Disciple wrote, “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”[i]
Place disapproval from others in God’s hands. Ask what lesson can be learned from the situation. Focus on God’s will instead of human will. You will grow from the experience.
Rejected by a family member? Accept the invitation to enter God’s family.
An unsupportive spouse? Let God support you.
A critical boss? Receive the unmerited favor of God.
In the graceful life, you place yourself in the hands of the Great Protector holding the other end of the rope. Your focus changes from the people in the world to the Creator of the world.
And one day you realize you are not as afraid of the opinions of others.
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Copyright © 2003 by Christine N. Karcher. Chris Karcher is the author of Relationships of Grace, Amazing Things I Know About You, and Relationships of Grace Workbook. To order books and tapes, schedule Chris for speaking engagements, or subscribe to Chris’ newsletter, visit www.relationshipsofgrace.com, email order@relationshipsofgrace.com, or call 1-877-GET-GRACE (1-877-438-4722).