My youngest daughter has been learning to ride her bike without training wheels. My husbands intense focus on her mesmerized me as I watched him run along side of the bike. As she picked up speed he watched her every swerve, pedal and tilt to keep her from falling when she lost her balance.

The Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:13 (AMP) encourages believers with these words, “I can do all things [which he has called me to do] through Him who strengthens and empowers me [to fulfill His purpose-I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.]”

Watching my husband train my daughter to ride her bike was a remarkable display of how God works in our lives if we let Him, if we are willing to be teachable. His earnest patience with her demonstrated the magnificent patience of Christ as He calls us out of the darkness, out our own short-sighted wisdom and begins to train us in His ways.

My daughter’s faith in my husband faltered from time to time as she shouted, “don’t let go of me daddy!” How many times have I shouted those same words to my Heavenly Father, “don’t let go of me God” knowing I cannot face what is in front of me without Him. But the longer I journey down the road of faith, the more confidence I have gained in my teacher, just as my daughter gained confidence in her teacher.

On day two of the bike training with daddy, my daughter took off on her own, giggling and giggling. Her self-sufficiency was found in and through her father’s sufficient teaching. His confidence in her allowed her an opportunity to find the confidence in herself for the task ahead. She knew he was right there with her. She knew she had a great teacher. And that made all the difference.