Trust In A Higher Power

Someone very special said something to me today that rang very true and made a huge impact.

The exchange went like this:

“Emma, you need to start trusting in G-d”

I said “I do”.

The response came “obviously not enough…”

These few words were enough to cause me to stop in my tracks and take a really good look at how my thoughts had been running and how in recent times I had come to believe I was walking this road alone.

You see, I absolutely do believe that there is a power greater than me, than all of us, that accompanies us on our journey and I realised in this moment that I had ‘forgotten’ this – I was obviously in the market for a reminder!

This communication caused me to see that I had bought into scarcity thinking and fallen into fear and worry in recent times. In my tunnel vision I had forgotten that it is not me alone running the show, orchestrating the great show of life. Indeed, I work in partnership with life, with a field and force greater than me, with that ‘something out there’ that knows what is best for me, knows much better in fact than I ever could from my limited perspective. I noticed then that I had not been reaching out to others who could extend the hand of friendship and support, but instead I had viewed myself as a ‘one woman band’, needing to pull everything together alone. Not an easy or comfortable place to reside.

I have learnt over the years that to live a life filled with freedom, joy and abundance it is absolutely necessary to trust in something bigger than ourselves – whether you refer to this ‘something’ as G-d, The Universe, The Divine, Field and Force of Life, the power of the group, trust needs to be cultivated that even in times of turmoil and struggle there is a bigger picture, a path unfolding for us that is absolutely in alignment with our highest good. For there is more power in ‘we’ than ‘me’.

This trust in something bigger than ourselves allows us space to relax, space to be ok in the unknown and to realise that even when things seem to be moving in the opposite direction of our desires there is a larger plan in action. We need only ‘go with the flow’ instead of pushing upstream and struggling to divert the flow of water.

Even when we are unclear on next steps or where exactly we are headed, just taking steps in the necessary direction puts a statement of intent out into The Universe. It is my belief that we need only concentrate our efforts and energy in the ‘right’ direction, whilst holding a vision / a picture of where we are headed and trust that this is enough. Yes, there needs to be action on our part, but there is also a very necessary time of ‘being’ and allowing that needs to follow this. A letting go and surrendering of the outcome so that we are not holding on so tightly that there is no room alternatives. A letting go that allows us to come away from tunnel vision and view other possibilities and options that we perhaps could not have seen for ourselves.

And what a relief this is! From this place of surrender, trust, allowing and a gentle letting go we realise that we do not have to do and control everything or the outcome. We can learn to trust that we are being held and guided, that life is absolutely on our side. For surrender is not an act of weakness but actually an act of strength.

And so the story goes:

One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the beach with the LORD.

Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand: one belonging to him, and the other to the LORD.

When the last scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed that many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in his life.

This really bothered him and he questioned the LORD about it:

“LORD, you said that once I decided to follow you, you’d walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life, there is only one set of footprints. I don’t understand why when I needed you most you would leave me.”

The LORD replied:

“My son, my precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you.”