By Derrell B. Thomas
As I walked through life, I fell off an edge, bounced off a ledge, and as I fell, someone threw me a shovel, and when I hit bottom, I dug a deeper pit. The Lord keeps finding me in these pits, asking me kindly what in the world I am doing down there!
“Uh? Oh, just felt like the thing to do, Lord.”
He shook His head, reached down and pulled me out then asked, “How long are you going to keep doing this? You enjoy it that much?”
“Uh, well, uh, not that much, Lord. Not really.”
“Follow Me then. Stop doing that. It certainly doesn’t make Me feel very good when I see you down there. I’ve got better plans for you.”
“That’s the problem, Lord.”
“Better plans are a problem?”
“Yes, Sir. I don’t know how to live that way, Lord. I’m afraid I’ll fall from a higher place.”
“I know you feel that way.”
“You do?”
“Of course. I made you. Remember?”
“I don’t want to disappoint You.”
“You don’t want to disappoint yourself either.”
“I guess you’re right, Sir. But if I go higher, I will fall farther.”
“Not really.”
“What do You mean?”
“Because when I take you to a higher place, you’ll be stronger. You eventually reach a place where you can’t fall as far.”
“How’s that, Lord? I mean, if I’m higher, I’m farther from the bottom. I know that bottom pretty well, Lord. It’s really hard! It’s full of rocks and thorns and other nasty things.”
“I know that.”
“How do You know that, Lord?”
“Because I was there. Remember? The Cross thing?”
“Yes, Sir. I forget that from time to time.”
“We were talking about the distance of the bottom from a higher place.”
“Oh yes. We were. You see, Lord, I’m right about how I feel. I don’t want to fall farther.”
“I said you won’t fall farther.”
“How’s that, Sir?”
“Because I raise the bottom closer to you. I know you’ll fall again. I’ve taken that into consideration. So, as I lift you to a higher place, you eventually reach a height where you won’t fall as far, because the bottom will be higher.”
“I’m not sure I understand, Lord.”
“As you get stronger, when you fall, your pits won’t be as bad. You get to a place where you won’t hurt as bad.”
“I guess that won’t be so bad.”
“Do you love me?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“More than your fears? Your pain? Your doubts?”
“Wow, Lord, you know how to ask tough questions.”
“Do you?”
“I’m not sure, Lord.”
“Thank you for being honest. I knew that. Take My hand. I’ll walk with you every step. Even if you can’t always see Me, I promise to always be there. I’ll lead you to that place.”
“I’m scared.”
“Bring that along, too.”
“Wow, Sir. You must love me a lot.”
“More than you will ever know.”
“Really?”
“See these scars? Remember — that cross thing? I was lower than you ever have been or can be. Come ahead, take My hand. I know this high place I want to take you to. It’s really neat.”
