The Word in the Wings
The Word in the Wings > Trust the One Leading the Dance
Trust the One Leading the Dance
By: Audrey Hammitt
Imagine you are dancing with a partner you don’t really know or fully trust, and whom you are trying to lead in the steps, even though they are in the leader role. I bet there would be some toes stepped on, disconnected movements, and an overall sense of confusion for both partners. Now imagine being partnered with someone who you trust completely, who knows every next step, and you yield to their leading. This type of partnership is able to work as a peaceful and strong unit, and it frees both partners to enjoy the dance fully. Trusting in God is like this latter partnership, and our upcoming show, Leaning Back, encourages us to sync ourselves with God’s heart for us.
Throughout the ballet, I represent a person journeying into a deeper relationship with Jesus. My first solo, to “Place in This World,” is a piece full of wondering and searching for where God wants me in this life. Our key verse for this dance was Proverbs 3:5-6, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” I personally connect with the need to trust God beyond my own understanding, and studying this passage in view of this dance encourages me that while I may not understand what God’s plans are, His understanding is perfect, and my role is to trust in Him. Just like in a partner dance, as I trust more in God and am assured through Scripture His plans for me will work for my good and His glory (see Romans 8:28), I can let go of my tendency to force my own agenda or stress about all I can’t grasp in my life.
...I never needed to carry my burdens in my own strength or wisdom...
As the show progresses, I dance another solo, this time to “Quiet.” Our Director, Melody, talked about this piece representing a more mature Christian getting caught up in the busyness of life and their own swirling thoughts, and how to choose to quiet oneself enough to listen for God, who often speaks in a small, quiet voice (see 1 Kings 19). I think this piece embodies a call to lean back into God through how it highlights how getting caught up with the elements in our life can drown out our awareness of God’s calming presence. While we may feel like God is silent or even absent amidst the loudness of our lives, one simple step toward Him may look like entering into silence and solitude. In my own experience with quietness of environment or spirit, I have been better able to realize I never needed to carry my burdens in my own strength or wisdom. Jesus has been walking beside me the entire time, and He knows what comes next. I can find rest in the fact that He holds my future and invites me to dance with Him today.
Leaning back into God through growing in trust and dependence on Him may not always feel natural. Just like in any relationship, our trust grows in someone as we know more about them and when their character has been proven dependable. God has spoken His invitation to get to know Him through the Bible, His creation, and people who have accepted Him as the Lord of their lives. Will you take His extended hand and let Him lead you through the beautiful and mysterious dance of this life? He knows every step, He is 100% worth following, and He yearns to dance with you to the song of His delight.
