On my desk is a picture that reminds me that God is always with me and is the strength I need to do all things. In the picture, I am suspended beneath a parachute and my feet are dangling in the Atlantic Ocean.

As I walked along a Florida beach one morning, I stopped to watch a group of people set out on a parasailing adventure. I was surprised to feel a longing deep inside me to do the same. Why would I want to hang in the air above the Atlantic Ocean? I can't even swim!

But the lure of parasailing intrigued me. It became an overwhelming desire, calling me out of my comfort zone, calling me to a new level of trusting others and trusting God, and offering me a chance to overcome longtime inhibitions.

It occurred to me that each of us has a God-given desire to grow, to stretch beyond human limitations, to tap into an innate reservoir of trust. We have within us the ability to accomplish anything we set our minds to. And God is with us every step of the way to ensure that the desires of our hearts are fulfilled. For me, this opportunity to surmount self-imposed limitations of being too old, too overweight and too fearful to attempt something new appeared as an adventure into the sport of parasailing. So I accepted the challenge.

The parachute lifted me higher and higher above the ocean. The straps creaked, the harness tightened around me, and I swayed slightly in the rigging. The more I wriggled to get comfortable and to look around, the more creaking, tightening and swaying I experienced. However, when I sat still, I not only was more comfortable but I also could see more and even enjoy the view.

I prayed a simple “Thank You, God,” and a sense of peace and well-being filled me. I actually did relax in the harness and began to enjoy the feeling of being totally supported, fully surrounded by sea and sky and by the loving presence of God.

Let Go, Let God

For me, parasailing is like a prayer. Just as the parachute lifted me higher and gave me a sense of peaceful freedom, a few moments in prayer will lift me to new heights of awareness, help me see situations from a broader perspective, and relax in an awareness of God's presence.

You, too, can let prayer lift you spiritually higher. You may squirm and fidget in an attempt to get a better perspective of where you are on your spiritual path. But when you relax in the safety of God's presence, when you release stereotypes or seeming limitations and simply trust God, your view of life becomes more focused and more reassuring ….

My parasailing experience was a lesson in faith, a lesson in letting go, and a lesson in trust. It was a lesson in being aware that God is always with me, supporting me, surrounding me, and keeping me safe even when it looks like the ocean of life might engulf me.

Just as I trusted the boat crew not to drop me into the ocean, I trust God's unfailing presence to see me through any challenge. The strength, confidence and assurance of the crew members, who guided me through the experience, watched me every moment I was aloft, and supported me on my return, remind me that the power, strength and love of God are within and around everyone at all times.

For me, a quick glance at the picture on my desk takes me back to the silence that enfolded me 1200 feet above the Atlantic. In that silence, I remembered to “Be still, and know” (Ps. 46:10).