Being Lifted Up

         There may have been times where you have heard the expression, “Be careful, you are walking on thin ice.” The thought that there is danger ahead if you keep doing what you are doing. I have mentioned before about a pond in Christiansburg where we would spend a lot of time fishing. My son and myself went fishing there on one cold day around noon and the pond, which is really a small lake, was frozen over. We cut a hole in the ice at one point and began fishing. We didn't catch anything and so after an hour or so, decided to walk across the ice to the other side of the pond rather than taking the long route around the pond. The area where we were fishing was in the shade most of the day by some trees and the bank of the pond so the ice was thicker. Getting about 20 feet from the opposite shore we both heard a cracking sound and knowing what was happening, began to separate ourselves to relieve the pressure, but it was too late. The ice broke and we both went into the pond. It was about chest deep so I held my camera up above my head along with the fishing gear as we scrambled to get to the shore. Indeed, we had been walking on “thin ice.” James 4:10 says, “ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”

          There are times in life when we need a “helping hand.” I have had many different illustrations in my life about being lifted up by someone else when I was in trouble. My parents did that a lot simply by taking my hand when crossing a street, getting out of a boat or even opening the car door too soon and almost falling on my head. Spiritually speaking we have the same thing going on in our lives on almost a daily basis. It is during those times that we need that helping hand that only God can give in order to make it through the hour or the day. We can find comfort from the Word of God in such passages as the Gospels, the Book of Psalms and the many examples in the Bible where God made a promise to those that had nothing and then provided for that very same promise in a way that was supernatural or as we may say, Divine. It took a lot of faith for Elijah to go to a brook and wait for a raven to come with the evening dinner. I have to admit that I don't know how that was accomplished as I would not be prone to eat anything that was dropped by a bird. I doubt that it was wrapped and stamped with an FDA approval. God, however, sustained Elijah for quite a time that way until the brook dried up. He then goes to a house where a widow woman is preparing her last meal with a bit of flour, just enough oil and a few sticks. Then, they thought they were going to die. Elijah made his request, and God supplied enough flour and oil to keep them all supplied. We often don't know how God does something, but for Him it is no big thing. To us, it is a Divine provision for which we have no explanation. God just did it. God quite often lifts us up when we are stumbling along in our daily walk. Again, we don't know how it is accomplished, but He does it. It is also worthy to note that in the passage for today, it begins with “Humble yourselves...” It is necessary for us to realize that we can not do it ourselves and that God is the One Who is going to do the lifting. God is our Fortress, our Mother Hen, Our Provider, Our Sustainer and He Who picks us up when we fall. Praise God today for His working in our lives each and every moment.