Rocky Paths

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong."  Psalm 37:23, 24

I have read this psalm before but these verses created a powerful image in my mind today.  Imagine a loving and kind father preparing to walk along a precarious path with his toddling daughter.  He reaches down and she places her tiny hand in his.  They continue on their way and before long she stumbles over a rock in the path.  Her daddy quickly reacts, squeezing her hand more tightly and lifting her up, preventing the child from hitting her head.

This is a great picture of the Christian life.  At some point in our lives, we recognized that God was reaching out to us for us to hold onto his hand...instead of trying to make it on our own, we saw that we needed his help and trusted enough to place our lives into his hands.  Did he immediately whisk us over the difficult path to the other side?  Not if we're still on this earth.  No, we still have a difficult path to walk in this life...even more so now that we follow The Way.  But here's our hope.  Though we fall, we will not be cast headlong.  Though people may try to throw us down into the rocks, he will uphold us.  Though suffering may come and we feel like we can't go on, he'll never let go.  No, he will hold our hand until we cross the finish line and he can embrace us fully. 

Don't try to make it all on your own in this life, when God is holding his hand out to you.  Release your fists and your striving to do it all, and grab hold of the loving Father's hand.  He will keep you on the path that leads to life, and you will not be cast headlong.


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