A trampoline is a load of fun. Of course I am talking about the big trampolines with protective netting around the sides. It would be an understatement to say that I jumped quite vigorously in one with my nephews yesterday.
Does projecting yourself vertically many feet into the air and landing in an “Indian style” sitting position, only to shoot right back up on both feet in the same bounce sound like vigorous trampoline work? Well, repeat that motion time and time again without stop. Then, add two little boys to the situation who ask you constantly to “bounce them higher” by forcing yourself to jump higher and harder. This is the stuff of trampoline heaven.
During one of my stints on that trampoline yesterday, I remember a distinct thought as my body rose into the air, enabling me to nearly brush the leaves of the surrounding trees. It was a beautiful day, and the feeling of nearly flying beneath the sunshine brought to mind a point from Ephesians 3:20 (NIV): God’s ability to do immeasurably more than all we can imagine – according to His power working in us.
As a type 1 diabetic of 26 years, I am thankful to Jesus for His sustaining, healing power in my body. By His grace, I have been active and have exercised most of my life. And, although I will suffer great soreness after being on that trampoline, I was exhilarated by the feeling of every part of my body – every muscle – being used to propel me up and all about. It felt like freedom. You cannot help but laugh while you are jumping like that, and you cannot help but feel like you are young all over again – like you have the world by the tail.
God reminded me while bouncing in that silly trampoline that we do have the world by the tail! We are free.
I want God to use every part of my life for His glory. I want to be totally spent for Him. How good it felt to have every muscle and joint used to “fly” yesterday. How good it feels to have every thought of our mind, every emotion of our heart, and every movement of our body used up by God; that is freedom.
It is hard for me to imagine that I can jump like I did. I know that someday soon I won’t be able to in the same way.
Sometimes it is also difficult for us to imagine that God could move through us mightily. But here is the key: God is able to do immeasurably more than what we can even imagine!
So get on the trampoline of life and let God use every part of you, while we wait for the day our resurrected bodies will literally jump again too!