— Midweek Meditations:
thoughts, inspiration and encouragement
from ACF community members —
It was Sunday when a friend of mine—someone I deeply respect and love—asked me to go bouldering in Freiburg. Without thinking, I said yes.
The problem? I knew absolutely nothing about bouldering.
I was too shy to admit it, too embarrassed to ask questions. But deep down, I really wanted to spend time with her. So I thought, Even if it’s bouldering, I’ll do it—just to be with her. I nodded and smiled as if climbing walls with my bare hands was something I did all the time.
By the time Saturday came, I was exhausted. Work had drained me. My mind was cluttered with worries. Every excuse to cancel ran through my head—I’m too tired, I might be getting sick, maybe she won’t mind if I reschedule… But I had given my word, so I showed up.
Walking into the bouldering gym, I immediately felt out of place. Everyone around me seemed strong, fit, confident, and capable. Meanwhile, I had no idea where to begin. My friend encouraged me, showing me the basics, but I hesitated. The walls looked higher up close. My arms already felt weak.
Still, I tried. I grabbed the first hold, then another, pulling myself up one awkward step at a time. But midway through, my grip slipped, and I fell hard onto the mat below.
Embarrassed, I laughed it off, but inside, I felt like a failure. The pain of embarrassment was stronger than the actual fall. It didn’t help that I saw kids climbing with ease—little bouldering pros—while I, a grown-up adult, lay there on the mat, feeling completely out of my depth.
Then, as I lay there catching my breath, I realized something: I don’t have to do it all at once. Just one hold, and one leg placement at a time.
At that moment, something clicked. That’s exactly how faith works. I often feel like I should already have it all together—like I should be strong enough, knowledgeable enough, fearless enough. But God never asked me to climb life’s challenges all at once. He just asks me to take the next step and trust Him.
My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
That night, I tried again. I took it one hold at a time. I still slipped, I still struggled, but I kept going. And step by step, I climbed higher than I thought I could.
Maybe you’re in a season where you feel unprepared, weak, or out of place. Maybe you’re afraid of failing. But the good news is, God doesn’t ask us to be strong—He asks us to trust Him. And when we do, His strength carries us where we never thought we could go.
Yes, we’re often scared or embarrassed of falling. But even if we do, we’re not falling into nothing—God is there, like the bouldering mat below, ready to catch us. His grace is our safety net, His love our cushion. We may stumble, but we are never beyond His reach.
And not only that—by the end of the night, I was in love with bouldering and I was planning my next bouldering day. What started as something intimidating turned into an incredible experience. I left feeling stronger, braver, and more alive than I had in a long time.
Midweek Reflection:
What’s one “hold” you can grab onto today, trusting God with the rest?
The ACF Midweek Meditations
are written by a diverse group of our church members with the intention to seek God’s fingerprints in our lives. They range from somber to humorous and are inspired by all facets of live and faith. Written by ordinary people from all walks of life, they reflect a wide range of Christian backgrounds and spiritualities.
Each week’s text portrays the individual viewpoint of its author. They might not always resonate with everyone, and are not meant to be understood as representing the Anglican Church Freiburg as a whole. Yet, as a church that is aiming to ‘Build a Community of Grace’ we seek to practice learning from and listening to one another.
We pray that these humble ponderings add a small spark of blessing to your week.
Freiburg Anglican Church 