The Thing To Do When Life Spins Too Fast

Through the years I’ve been blessed with some wonderful times with family.

One of my most precious memories is swing dancing with my oldest son at one of his college functions. In general, dancing is not something our family does—except at an occasional wedding and for Daniel at college.

Among his college friends, swing dancing is the thing to do on many Friday nights. So he learned, and I was intrigued. I saw pictures across the miles, and it looked like a lot of fun.

So that particular parent-visitation night, I begged him to teach me. Finally, he obliged.

Blessing of the Dance

And it was ugly (thanks to my lack of dancing prowess) and beautiful; hard yet at the same time freeing!

Swing dancing is extremely fast paced, with lots of spinning. As Danny swung me around, I tripped and slid, laughed and gasped for breath.

I had a difficult time keeping up but didn’t want to be anywhere else.

I wanted to hide my ineptness yet wanted to savor the moment. The dance seemed to never end, but in the end, ended too soon.

My dance with Danny was flawed in many ways, but it was far more glorious because of who was leading me through it.

I could have watched from the audience as he twirled someone else. It would have been easy and comfortable.

But then I would have missed the treasure of being swung around the dance floor by my son. 

As I reflected on my swing-dancing experience, I noticed some similarities in our journey through life.

The Dance of Life

Life, too, can be ugly,

yet it can be even more glorious. 

We can stumble through one day

and then slide through the next  with ease.

We can be gasping for breath one moment

only to be laughing joyously the next. 

We try to hide our perceived shortcomings

yet long to step from behind our mask to savor the gift of this life.

Life can sometimes seem to drag on endlessly

but it really is gone in nearly the blink of an eye. 

A Glorious Life-Dance

Like my dance with Danny, our lives on this earth are also flawed in many ways.

Difficult circumstances bring heartache and frustration. Health and financial concerns can rock our world as can messy relationships. Things happen to trip us up. 

Yet it, too, is far more glorious because of who is leading us through it. 

God blesses us with many gifts as we whirl in His arms:

The birth of a baby. Watching children grow into capable adults. Laughter and love. Brilliant sunrises and magnificent sunsets. Birds singing outside the window as a light breeze gently billows the curtains on a warm spring day.  Sitting alongside a gurgling stream or a crashing ocean. Laying on the dank grass enjoying the peace of  a deep blue sky with fluffy white clouds skirting by. 

Trust God

We have a choice. We could pull away from God and not allow Him to lead.

We could sit in the audience and watch life play out, stay within familiar boundaries and refuse to step out in faith.

It would be easier and more comfortable.

But then we would be missing the riches found in this breath-taking dance in the arms of our Father.

The grace drops of beauty and laughter. The wonder and anticipation of the next step with Him. 

Life can be ugly, yet it can be even more glorious. And if we withdraw and sit on the sidelines as life passes us by, we would miss the riches found in the dance God has planned for us. Share on X

No, we’re far better off stepping into the dance with the One who knows all the moves. We’re much better off putting our trust in God. 

So when life seems to be spinning too fast and it becomes hard to stay on your feet, step into God’s arms. Let Him hold you.

You can trust Him. He will lead you through each step of this dance.

And with Him leading, it promises to be a glorious one. 

When life seems to be spinning too fast and it becomes hard to stay on your feet, step into God's arms. Let Him hold you. You can trust Him. He will lead you safely through each step of what promises to be a glorious dance. Share on X

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.“ Psalm 84:11

Life's not easy, but with God's arms around you leading you through each step of this dance, it'll be glorious. Share on X

Reflections: I love imagining God, strong arms wrapped around me, twirling me through this life. In your hardest moments, what image of God brings you the most comfort? Do you trust Him to lead you on your life dance? 

I’m thrilled to link up with Suzie Eller for #livefreeThursday and this week’s prompt, “family.” I love these special linkups. They provide an abundance of great inspiration and encouragement all in one place. Click on the images below to check them out.