Did you ever fall on the playground as a kid? I know I did. Most days when I fell I would quickly get back up, dust myself off and go about my business. Then there were the bad days. I would fall and stay there. I remember thinking that staying on the ground was just easier. If I never got up I would never fall again. I would sit there lost in thought about how not getting up was easier and that the idea of sitting during recess was better than falling again. "At least I didn't get hurt this time. If I get up I could fall again and break my leg, or bust my head open or even die!" (Yes, at times I was THAT kid). Then I would hear, "Are you okay?!?" Ah! Here comes someone to save the day. They would reach out their hand, help me back up and keep holding on until they knew I was stable on my own two feet. Once stable I would realize that staying on the ground was overrated. It was much better to take the chance that I would fall again.
As an adult I have fallen in different ways. I have fallen into the lies of depression (several times), loneliness, the world (countless times), self pity, and so many more. I always have that moment of, "it would be easier to stay here" and I honestly feel like in those moments it would have been easier to admit defeat than to get out of bed or to admit that I was lonely or that I had fallen for the lies of this world. It would've been easier to go on pretending like everything was okay, that my life as a Christian was easy and I never felt the sting of the world. That I felt sadness and grief and fear and I had no idea why.
While I was down and thinking about how easy it would be to stay there, the Holy Spirit started tapping on my shoulder and very (and I mean VERY) patiently waited for me to realize He was there. Not only did He tap on my shoulder, but He would use people and situations to try to snap me out of it too and I stood my ground. Unlike when I was a kid, I was not quick to get up and see that moving forward was better. I wanted easier. Being depressed is easier. Being lonely is easier. Feeling bad for myself is easier. "What's the point? If I reach out to them and tell them how I feel they will judge me and probably shun me. They don't understand how I feel. They will just ask why I'm depressed and I don't know why. They will tell me to snap out of it and move on." For a very long time that is the lie I told myself and I had no idea that those lies were the very thing pushing people away. When I thought people would judge and criticize me, I was judging and criticizing them. I never gave anyone a chance. But the Holy Spirit was relentless in His pursuit of me.
Once I felt that tapping on my shoulder He offered me a hand and made sure I was steady on my feet before taking a step back. He has never left. He is always there when I fall, waiting for me take His hand and making sure I am steady before letting go. Every time.
What brought all this up? This verse:
Doesn't that give you the best mental picture? In your mess you are being held up by the very one who created the universe! He loves you enough to wait patiently for you to grab His hand and get steady before letting go and walking next you! WOW!!! I am so thankful for a patient God!
To anyone reading this that is struggling with anything, at any stage of your walk; I hope you can feel that tapping on your shoulder. God is your support and He will uphold you. How do I know? He said He would. He died so He could.
As an adult I have fallen in different ways. I have fallen into the lies of depression (several times), loneliness, the world (countless times), self pity, and so many more. I always have that moment of, "it would be easier to stay here" and I honestly feel like in those moments it would have been easier to admit defeat than to get out of bed or to admit that I was lonely or that I had fallen for the lies of this world. It would've been easier to go on pretending like everything was okay, that my life as a Christian was easy and I never felt the sting of the world. That I felt sadness and grief and fear and I had no idea why.
While I was down and thinking about how easy it would be to stay there, the Holy Spirit started tapping on my shoulder and very (and I mean VERY) patiently waited for me to realize He was there. Not only did He tap on my shoulder, but He would use people and situations to try to snap me out of it too and I stood my ground. Unlike when I was a kid, I was not quick to get up and see that moving forward was better. I wanted easier. Being depressed is easier. Being lonely is easier. Feeling bad for myself is easier. "What's the point? If I reach out to them and tell them how I feel they will judge me and probably shun me. They don't understand how I feel. They will just ask why I'm depressed and I don't know why. They will tell me to snap out of it and move on." For a very long time that is the lie I told myself and I had no idea that those lies were the very thing pushing people away. When I thought people would judge and criticize me, I was judging and criticizing them. I never gave anyone a chance. But the Holy Spirit was relentless in His pursuit of me.
Once I felt that tapping on my shoulder He offered me a hand and made sure I was steady on my feet before taking a step back. He has never left. He is always there when I fall, waiting for me take His hand and making sure I am steady before letting go. Every time.
What brought all this up? This verse:
“Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him.”
Psalm 37:24 AMP
Doesn't that give you the best mental picture? In your mess you are being held up by the very one who created the universe! He loves you enough to wait patiently for you to grab His hand and get steady before letting go and walking next you! WOW!!! I am so thankful for a patient God!
To anyone reading this that is struggling with anything, at any stage of your walk; I hope you can feel that tapping on your shoulder. God is your support and He will uphold you. How do I know? He said He would. He died so He could.
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