Walking the tightrope
Who stood up for me against the wicked? Who took my side against the evildoers? If the Lord had not helped me, I would have gone quickly to the land of silence. I said, "I am falling"; but your constant love, O Lord, held me up. Whenever I am anxious and worried, you comfort me and make me glad. Psalm 94 : 18 - 19 (GNB) |
In our passage this week we see the writer David thanking God. He isn't thanking him for keeping bad things and hard times at bay. As you will find throughout David's writing that this wasn't the case. Instead he is thankful for God giving him the love, strength and encouragement that he needed to get through the tough bits.
Let's imagine that life is like a tightrope, suspended high up in the air. You could just rush in and try and conquer it without any support and without a safety net. However chances are you will end up in a mess on the pavement below.
Alternatively you could let God help, letting him coach you as you go along, giving you encouragement when you feel a bit wobbly or want to give up. Also setting up a safety net below to catch you when you fall. This is exactly the sort of reassurance and support that David is talking about in our passage.
You might still fall off the rope even when God is helping you. However he will be there to help you up unscathed off the safety net to try again. Which is far better than the alternative, scraping what is left of you off the tarmac.
In both cases, it is down to you to make the first move, to step out onto the wire, even if at first it seems scary. Without stepping out you will never be able to make use of God's help. There is no benefit in having a safety net if you stay on the ground! By stepping out and putting your trust in God into action you are able to grow your skills and reach your potential. If you fall on the way, that's ok. You know that you can rely on God for a safe landing.
This week as you walk across your tightrope of life, don't worry about falling off. Instead make sure you have God ready to catch you. Have a great week.
This week's song is Glorious by Vineyard Worship. |
Header image by: Quinn Dombrowski via Flickr