Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT

You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Galatians 1:10 NLT

Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.

When I was a young girl living in Southern Mexico, I often had the opportunity to dance with my dad at family gatherings. I can remember the excitement of copying the moves that he did: the shoulder shake like a rumba dancer, the funny thing he would do with his head that reminded me of a turtle, and mostly just having a good time with him laughing and carrying on. I knew I was safe. I knew I was cool. I knew what I was doing!

As I grew older and move back to the state, there were less opportunities to dance with my dad. When we would go to Mexico to visit we would attend family gathering like quinceañera parties or weddings. I distinctly remember my cousin’s Manue’s quinceañera party. My dad was so excited to dance and I was a self-conscious teenager who had lost touch of my Mexican roots and freedom to dance. When my dad turned to me and asked me to dance, I was very embarrassed. “Please don’t do the turtle head thing”, I thought to myself. I didn’t want to look silly; I didn’t want people to mock me, but mostly I was embarrassed because I didn't know how to dance the way he wanted to dance and that meant I had no control.

My dad, who was beaming because I was with him, his only daughter, grabbed my hand and dragged me to the dance floor. He looked me in the eyes, put his hand in the small of my back and told me to just feel the music and follow him.

Fast forward 30 + years later and I have recently heard the same words, but this time from my Heavenly Father. The sad part, I find myself equally stubborn and embarrassed with Him. I’m constantly trying to wrestle away control from Him and trying to tell Him how to do things in my life, in the life of my family, in the life of our church, and even in the life of those I work with.

I’ve come to realize that God is asking me to do the same thing; to trust Him. God wants me to feel the music and follow Him as He puts His hand in the small of my back, or in this case, as He has put His Holy Spirit in my heart to guide me. This is not easy, and after 39 years of life and 35 years of following God, I’m not sure that I can say I’ve been more successful than not. Oh, but when I do, when I do trust, when I do let go, feel the music, allow His “right hand to hold me fast”, I waltz with my Father like a pro. There is no hesitation, there is no fear, there is no embarrassment, there is only pure unadulterated bliss.

The last year and half the power struggle has become a way of life for me. I’ve realized that the life of a disciple is not pretty, easy, or well put together. I step on God’s toes all the time, just as I did with my own dad. No, the life of a disciple is sacrifice and sacrifice is messy, at best. It is clear to me that His ways are not my ways nor His thoughts my thoughts. But it is also clear to me that when I really feel the music, allow His hand in the small of back to lead me, it is then that I feel His Glory.

Taste and see that the Lord is good! Try shutting your eyes, feeling the music, and allowing His Hand to guide you today. He is actively seeking to engage with you, to talk with you, to love you deeply. Our God, who is able to do exceedingly more than we can ask or even think of, is ready to lead you; all you have to do is close your eyes, feel the music, and dance with Him.