Who do you have in your corner?
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
For 34 years, I have lived in this beautiful country, and throughout that time, I have never felt the desire to return to Mexico. Most of my family is here in the U.S., and honestly, my heart preferred to stay put. But God, who always knows how to disrupt our comfort zones, had other plans.
A year ago, my nephew invited me to officiate his wedding in Cancún, Mexico. And surprisingly, this time I wasn’t hesitant. I wasn’t anxious. I was actually excited. It felt like God whispering, “Be strong and courageous… I will be with you wherever you go.”
What many people don’t know is that I’m claustrophobic and terrified of heights. Flying is not my favorite thing. Something about the motion unsettles me. But I’ve learned to cope by focusing on where I’m going and what I’m looking forward to. And this time, I was determined to walk in courage, not fear.
The day after the ceremony, our family planned an excursion: ATVs, zip-lining, cenotes (underground caves), and Mayan ruins. I was blessed to have twelve family members with us, enjoying this exciting adventure. As we reached the part where we started zip-lining, I had no idea what I had gotten myself into. We started small with a zip line a few feet off the ground. All of a sudden, we were 40 feet in the air, and I was terrified. One by one, my family members were sent off until it was my turn. Luckily, I didn’t go last, so I had a few family members there, cheering me on and encouraging me to be brave. Knowing I wasn’t alone gave me peace. Seeing the others enjoying the zip line gave me hope. And remembering Joshua 1:9 reminded me that God was already ahead of me on every trail, every stair, every dark place, and every zip line.
I kept whispering in my mind, “Jesus, I love You, but I don’t want to meet You just yet!” Even that made me laugh and helped me relax. I even swam in the ocean, something I never imagined I would do on this trip.
What is one of your fears?
The zip line itself wasn’t even the scariest part; the staircase leading up to it was! Definitely NOT OSHA-approved! One wrong step and I would’ve gone straight to heaven! When I finally made it to the top, a young man looked at me with the most relaxed, gentle expression and asked, “Are you afraid, ma’am?”
“Yes,” I said. “Very afraid.”
“Just relax,” he replied. “It will be over soon.” He was right. And I survived. I still can’t believe I did it!!
What I learned on this trip is that fears don’t disappear on their own. They lose their power when we face them with courage, with support, and with God’s presence beside us.
Who do you have in your corner? Someone you can share your fears with, someone who will stand with you? When was the last time you faced a fear and conquered it?
As I reflected on all of this, I was reminded of Scripture, how Mary and Joseph left their hometown to give birth to Jesus. I didn’t leave to give birth, but I did experience a rebirth of courage. For years, I avoided going back to Mexico because it carried painful memories: fear, hunger, humiliation, and poverty. But this time I returned to a thriving, welcoming place. A place filled with beauty, abundance, and joy.
It made me think of the places in our hearts we avoid. The places where we’ve been hurt. The memories we don’t want to revisit. But God, in His gentle way, often brings us back, not to wound us again, but to show us how far He has healed, strengthened, and transformed us. One day, we return to what once scared us and realize we are no longer the same person.
God also has a way to remind us: On our way back to the resort, a driver asked a question that got us to share our immigration stories. Some told of being scammed while trying to follow the law, losing thousands of dollars, until they finally found someone trustworthy. I shared my story about hiding behind bushes, feeling the warmth of a border patrol agent’s flashlight on our faces as he said, “No one here. Let’s go.” I still call that “God’s compassion.”
I love telling how God made a way for me to obtain citizenship, not to brag, but to remind me of the opportunity I get to bless others. It felt good to go back and bless others generously, whether it was tipping drivers, buying keepsakes that took 17 hours to make, or donating to the elderly woman singing the hymns of my childhood. My “spare change” becomes someone else’s provision for the week.
Life looks different when you’ve been on both sides, when you’ve been the one in need and now the one able to help. It feels good to be blessed so that you can be a blessing, compassionate because compassion was once shown to you.
What are you most grateful for today?
Think back to some of your hardest moments. Look where God has brought you, not to brag, but to remember the One who brought you out.
This season, let’s celebrate the birth of Jesus with joy and gratitude!
Be a Blessing!
Pastora Grimelda Sanchez