The Dreaded Ropes Course
A lot of the skill comes down to strength and balance – two things that are not high on my capabilities list!
Reference: v.7a So the five men left and came to Laish, where they saw that the people were living in safety, like the Sidonians, unsuspecting and secure. And since their land lacked nothing, they were prosperous. (TNIV Bible)
Explore: Have you ever done a high ropes course? I hate these kinds of activities, but was forced into doing them on school camps. During a ropes course you have to go across different types of apparatus – mainly constructed from ropes – and not fall down. If the rope course is really high, you will wear a harness, but a lot of the skill comes down to strength and balance – two things that are not high on my capabilities list! Often there is an overhanging rope that you can hold onto that assists you to balance and helps you across the course. When you are well balanced, the assisting rope hangs loose. However, as soon as you feel you are being pushed beyond your limit and your balance becomes wonky, then you hang on fast to that guiding rope and use it as best you can.
Application: Sometimes I find myself treating God just like that guiding rope. When life is going well I know that God is still there, but I just hang onto him loosely as I go through life. However, when times get tough and I feel overwhelmed by my situation, it is then that I will desperately reach for God and cling to him with my life. When I feel in control I still do my ritual religious activities, however, it is when times are tough that I rely on him with all that I have. I really hate going through difficult times and yet this is when my faith becomes more real to me. We are so blessed to have a God who is faithful to us in our times of need, even when we have held loosely to him during our time of plenty.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we turn to you only when we’re in need. May we rely on you for every step along our way. Amen.
How do you focus on God even when times are good?
This article was written by Linda Bailey
Linda started theological studies in 1999 in Australia. After working for ten years in various church ministries, she now works as the breakfast producer at 89.9 LightFM - the Christian radio station in Melbourne, Australia. She writes blogs every day about passages she is currently reading in the Bible. Follow her on Google Plus +Linda Bailey or Facebook by clicking the like button on the right of this page.