When Life Throws You Down
Timber! I felt like a tall tree being harvested for fire wood as my body toppled to the pavement.
We were at the beach this week for spring break and because I love the water so much I decided to take a walk and enjoy the scenery. I was doing what I usually do when I walk, praising God and lifting up prayers, when I hit an uneven spot in the road with my foot and began my descent. Normally, I can catch myself when I stumble, but my foot seemed to be stuck and there was no turning back. As I was on my way down, I had a split second to decide how to stop my fall, so I let my hand go first, then did a barrel roll like they do in a football drill, catching my shoulder and my hip.
My first thought was, “Did anyone see that?” I was embarrassed as I looked around. There was no one in plain view. My second thought was, “Did I break anything?” It didn’t seem like I did but everything that hit the pavement hurt. My third thought was, “Should I whimper back to the house or should I continue on?” I had only been walking for five minutes and I kept thinking about the plate of shrimp nachos and shrimp tacos I’d had the night before.
The idea of working off dinner was enough to spur me on to continue the walk, even though I had a scraped elbow, a throbbing hand and most likely, a bruised hip. I went on despite my damaged pride. As I kept walking, my gait went from a slight limp back to a power walk. I began to praise God again and started to pray. I had pushed through this small trial and moved on down the road.
I also realized I was not on home turf for my walk. When I walk at home that stretch had been prayed over numerous times. Someone once told me that whenever I travel I should pray over the house and area I’m visiting. Perhaps the enemy didn’t like the sound of my prayers and did his best to stop them. In a way, it was an honor the devil thought my prayers were important enough to hurl me down. I smiled as I continued my walk because I realized he did not win.
James 1:2-4 says, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
In what area of your life is the enemy trying to take you down? Are you feeling beaten up and bruised right now? Do you want to go back home, close the shades and cry over your wounds?
God wants you to persevere. Consider it an honor that your life is worthy to be under attack and press on. When I fell, I imagine there was at least one resident looking out the window saying, “Wow, that girl took a spill but she got up and kept walking.” There are people in your life watching to see how you handle the trials you face. Sure the trials are painful. You may be slowly walking through them, but you are upright. You are not letting the enemy defeat you and those who are observing are amazed at your joy under pressure. If that’s not you, join me in this prayer:
Lord, my trial is too great to handle in my own strength. Enable me to persevere and keep walking through my life with joy despite the circumstances. I pray that you will enable me to be a witness to others so their lives will be affected through my perseverance. Live in me and through me as I attempt to rise above the problems that try to hurl me down. Thank you for your provision. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN