…it is hard to make it clear to you because you no longer try to understand. (Hebrews 5:1, NASB)
I was a good junior golfer but was not exceptional enough to be recruited aggressively by any big college golf programs. Golf was my third favorite sport of the three sports I played in high school. Even though it was my best, I didn’t want to play in college.
Four years later, after graduating, despite not having played competitively in college, I realized the United States Amateur Championship would be played in my hometown of Atlanta. With no logical reason to think I would qualify, I signed up.
I signed up to qualify at a course I had played well in a big junior golf tournament a few years prior, so at least I knew the course. I did not have high expectations, so I just tried to have fun and see if I could shoot a couple of decent rounds. Then, the qualifier happened, and the next thing I knew, I was five under par after eleven holes, and I started to get nervous.
I was in uncharted territory. Now, all I could think about was trying not to blow it. I managed to guide that first round into the house with a 3-under, 69, and I was tied for the lead going into the second round. I even got interviewed by a local sports reporter.
If you didn’t pick up on the foreshadowing, the second round didn’t go well. I was afraid to go deep in Round 1 when everything was firing, and then, I was trying to hold it together in Round 2. Needless to say, I did not qualify.
I was afraid to go deep when I had the chance. I learned from it but missed out on a great opportunity because I was not in the right mindset. So, here’s the question we all need to ask: “Why are we afraid to go deep?”
I’ll let the sports psychologists answer that about our issues on the golf course. In this devotional, let’s address our hesitation to go deep in our faith in Jesus. Are we/you afraid to let Jesus go deep into your heart?
I know that might sound intimidating, but I think it is an important question that we should all ask ourselves. Is it more comfortable to keep God at a safe distance than to let him into the deepest and most intimate parts of your life? Are there areas of your life that you refuse to invite Jesus into to heal, restore, or make complete?
If you don’t know what I mean, here’s a few questions you may be asking God:
- Father, do you truly love and care for me as much as I do my children?
- God, I know you want me to forgive others as you have forgiven me, but do I have to forgive the person who cheated or stole from me?
- Father, I’m struggling right now in my finances, can I trust you to show up?
- Holy Spirit, are you really by my side when I feel like everything is against me?
- Jesus, did you really die for me despite my lack of faith?
Regardless of your reason, don’t let your emotional insecurities get in the way of inviting God into the areas of your life that he sent his Son into the world to forgive, restore, make whole, and claim victory.
God has big plans for you in his kingdom. Do not let the things you have yet to resolve get in the way of God using you in amazing ways. Invite him in so that you can go deep.
Prayer – Jesus, help me realize the areas of my life that I am still holding back from allowing you into… take me deep.