I grew up in Minnesota – The land of 10,000 lakes – and faith that temperatures will consistently freeze these lakes every winter. Frozen lakes can be very enjoyable. Skating, snowmobiling, ice fishing, ice-sailing and other activities bring this “winter wonderland” to life on a frozen lake! I even remember the Winter Carnival, where ice blocks were cut out of the lake and amazing palaces where built and then lit up with colored lights. Yes, frozen lakes can be amazing!

Yet, there are dangers… The question was always, “Is the ice thick enough to walk on?” Every year there were deaths at the start of the season when the ice was just forming. People or animals went out on the ice and fell through and drown. Also, the end of the winter season was precarious as well, as the ice melted and people left their fishing houses out too long and they fell through the ice and sank to the bottom of the lake… Even after 50 years, I vividly remember riding my bike across a small frozen lake in the early spring. The ice starting to crackle and buckle just ahead of my front tire and even though it was thrilling, I didn’t dare stop for fear of breaking through the ice!

But to me, frozen lakes also cause me think about the life of faith in Jesus Christ. You see, accepting Christ as Lord and Savior brings up questions such as, If I surrender all to Jesus, will he take care of me? or, Is Christianity thick and real, or just a bunch of traditions and activities done that are enjoyable?

I wrestled with these questions before surrendering my life to Jesus. For as long as I can remember, I wondered if Christianity really was something to live and experience, or a way of life to abandon in pursuit of the things this world had to offer… My question was always, “Like ice on a frozen lake, is faith in Jesus Christ thick enough to support the weight of my entire life.”

33 years ago, I took the step of faith onto the “ice” of faith in Christ. Amazingly, I didn’t fall through, the ice of faith didn’t buckle in front of me. No cracks showed up or scary sounds of impending breaking through. I found it to not only to be thick enough, but amazingly enjoyable as well. Like riding a bike across a frozen lake in the spring, I found the life of Christ to be thrilling…a real adventure.

What is holding you back? What fear – like breaking through the ice – is stopping you from experiencing all Christ has for your life? My advice? Take the risk, step out and experience the strong arms of the loving Heavenly Father. The option? Trying to navigate the “ice of life” on your own…