Draw Close: 21 Days to Know GodSample

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 NLT

You are halfway through your fast! Congratulations! Without asking, I’m sure there have been some great days and others that have been really difficult. There have been days when you haven’t followed your fast or you haven’t had any time with God. Welcome to the club. You aren’t the only one. I promise.

The important thing is to not give up. To get back up. We’re on the path to God. That means we are moving forward and sometimes we trip and fall. We do a faceplant. We scrape our knees.

Have you ever tripped and fallen in a public place? Yup. I have, and it was so excruciatingly embarrassing. I not only fell; I also cut my knee and the manager of the store insisted that I be carried into the back of the store while seated on a chair even though I told them I could walk. She said it had something to do with liability. I think she didn’t want me bleeding on her floor. After I was bandaged up and filled out an incident form, I had to walk all the way to the front of the store. I was positive everyone was looking at me and judging me for my clumsiness. To this day I have never returned to that store!

That’s also how we can feel when we stumble and fall on the path to God. We are embarrassed, ashamed. We want to hide. And we’re hurt because falling hurts! We wonder if others are judging us. We wonder if Jesus is judging us. And unfortunately, we may walk away from the community of the church.

What does Jesus do when we fall?

He bandages our scraped-up souls and hearts. He forgives us and restores us. And he helps us get up and start walking again even if it’s with a limp for a while. He’s right there to lean on.

Where have you tripped and fallen? Talk to Jesus about it. Ask him to forgive you and heal the hurt and help you get back up. You may limp and it may hurt but know this: the journey on the path to God is worth it.

“…A righteous man falls seven times, but gets back up…” Proverbs 24:16