It’s been pretty hot here for the past few weeks, in the 80s every day. My nephew, who is five, came to visit and, of course, he loves to play outside. Mmmkay, this isn’t about his love for the great outdoors, please stick with me. We’d gone out to water our flowers and he wanted to help, so I let him. I asked if he wanted me to spray him with the hose because what kid doesn’t. Well, this kid does not.
After being out in the heat a while though, I somehow convinced him to let me spray him. Well, as you may know, with preschoolers, it’s often tit for tat so he wanted to spray me in return. Now, y’all know I didn’t want a 5-year-old to let loose on me with a water hose, so I told him no. “Please Tee Tee, can I spray you?” My reply was still “nope”. Even though it was sweltering outside, I wasn’t willing to let him spray me even though it would cool me off.
We were playing out in the backyard, in the grass, being shined down on by the hot sun. He finally said, “C’mon, it’s just water. I’m gonna do it”; he then proceeds to spray me, at very close proximity, might I add. I couldn’t even have an attitude about it, though I really wanted to because he aimed straight for the back of my head. All I could do was run, but I had to run in the direction that the water was flowing in order to get away from it.
Don’t Fear What Came to Help You, Not Harm You
As I stated before, this is not about a five-year old’s love for playing outside. This is about you not wanting to get “sprayed with the water hose”, and I will tell you what I mean.
There are so many opportunities that we miss out on in life because we refuse to get sprayed. We get apprehensive and back out of plans, make excuses, and so on. Thoughts of failure outweigh the promise of success. Lack of resources overrides guaranteed support.
There are even times when some of us allow our perfectionism to hinder us from moving forward. Yep, we’re afraid that the water will get our hair wet (you know that’s a no-no). Because when our hair is wet, involuntarily, it’s a mess and us perfectionists (yes, I admit to it) hate messes.
It is so easy to pass on the water hose spray down when we ignore the hot temperatures in our atmosphere. The mercury is rising for what we have to offer. Perhaps, we do not realize that if we move in accordance with the flow of the water being sprayed, we will get to our destination and be of help to others.
So, What’s the Play Call?
I know it can seem like a burden to be “sprayed with the water hose”, but it is exactly what we need to get us headed where we need to be. When it’s easier to stay safe and dry, please remember these things:
- Exercise your faith. Most, okay, all of the things that God gives us to do require faith. If we want those things to succeed, we must have faith to know that He will see them through, just as he has placed them in our care to do. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
- Know that you have nothing to fear. I know you are probably thinking that there are many things to fear. You know what, though? With God on your side, none of those things are relevant, He is greater than them all. “I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalms 34:4
- A little water is good for you. It sure is, so there is no need to take off running at the first sign of the sprinkler system. Listen, we all know that water is needed to hydrate, to help us grow – so think of the water coming at you as a means to help you grow and gain what you need. “That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.” Deuteronomy 11:14
- Trust God’s doing. Often, we see the water that is slapping the back of our heads as an attack of the enemy. Know that God has a fail-proof plan that will keep you safe no matter what is coming in your direction. “Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.” Psalms 16:1
Don’t be afraid to get sprayed a little bit. This water could be just what you need to get to your destiny. “C’mon, it’s just water.”
