The other day I watched Cruz and Grace on the playground.

There was laughter in the air, a warm sun overhead, and that soft crunch of wood chips under little feet. Cruz raced toward the slide, and Grace stopped to examine a leaf (most likely before stomping on it). Not once did they ask if they were allowed to go down the slide or touch the swing. They knew they had freedom. As long as they were in the sandbox—or anywhere within that big, loving circle of the playground—they were free to explore.

And I couldn’t help but wonder: how often do we, as grown-ups, forget this truth about God?

We think of His will like a tightrope—one wrong step and it’s over. We hesitate to move forward until we’ve asked five people for confirmation, prayed three times, and maybe even fasted for a day… just to make sure we’re “in His will.”

But what if life with God is less like a tightrope and more like a sandbox?

A space He built, filled with tools and toys, people and passions, opportunities and dreams. He set the boundary lines not to trap us, but to keep us close. To keep us safe. To give us room to play.

“You’re not on a tightrope—you’re in a sandbox. God built it. Go play.”

I think God delights in our exploring. He smiles when we try new things, when we dig into something we love, when we laugh and build and even knock things down just to start again. That’s what a sandbox is for.

Can we make a mess? Sure.
Can we step outside the lines and miss out on some blessings? Of course.
But to believe we can ruin God’s plan with one wrong shovel scoop—that’s more fear than faith. Yes, our choices matter. Some can carry deep pain and lasting consequences. But even then, His grace is wider than our worst day. He redeems what we think is beyond repair.

It’s not about walking on eggshells. It’s about staying close to the One who made the space for us in the first place.

As Psalm 16 reminds us:

“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.” (Psalm 16:5–6)

So if God put you in a sandbox, play.

And maybe you’ve been in one corner of that sandbox for a long time—doing good, steady work. That’s beautiful. But don’t be afraid to move to another part. Try something new. Explore a different gift. Stretch a passion that’s been waiting quietly in the background.

You’re still within His care.
You’re still within His plan.
And He takes joy in your joy.

Enjoy the gifts.
Explore the space.
Dig deep.
Laugh loud.
And when you fall—because you will—remember whose arms are always waiting nearby.

---

• Facebook
• LinkedIn