Published: Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010 / Updated: Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2010 05:57 PM
If you slip, God is there to catch you
This summer I went on a mission trip to Cange, Haiti.
Cange is a village in the Central Plateau region, a mountainous area. I knew the trip would be physically strenuous and I knew the climate would be hot, so before the trip I tried to prepare myself by exercising and hiking. I even hiked up Crowder’s mountain in the heat of the summer.
I thought I was prepared.
But, I wasn’t.
Our second day in Haiti, we hiked to the village of Bois Joli. The trail was rocky and along the side of a mountain. As well as the exertion of climbing hills, I was also confronted with rocky paths that were unstable. The rocks would slip out form under my feet, throwing me off balance.
We were not alone on this path. Haitians from Cange were with us, leading us and making sure we had all that we needed. At one point I lost my footing and fell and one of these men helped me up. After that he became my companion. He offered his arm for me to hold onto. Whenever we approached a troublesome area, he anticipated the trouble I might have and was there to help.
This experience was very humbling for me. I could not do it on my own. I needed help. That day I said “merci” more times than I can count. And I was very thankful because only through this assistance could I have made that journey.
This experience reminds me of the way in which the Lord is present with us to provide the guidance and strength needed to do what must be done in tough times whether it is helping a parent who is aging or helping children who are struggling in school – whether it is looking for a job in the midst of tough economic times or dealing with a boss who is demanding and unfair.
The Lord is with us to the provide guidance and strength we need in order to face life’s most difficult and strenuous tasks.
We are reminded of this in the Old Testament, when the prophet Jeremiah (Jer. 1:4-10) heard God’s call to be his prophet, his spokesman, Jeremiah protested, “But Lord, I can’t. I can’t speak! I’m too young!”
The Lord counters, “But I am sending. You will speak what I tell you. And I will be with you to protect you from all who would harm you.”
The Lord provided for Jeremiah even when Jeremiah thought he was not able – even when Jeremiah feared his enemies. The Lord promised to provide.
The Lord calls us, also, to do his work in the world. Our calls will be varied. It may be that we are called to speak God’s word in the world by telling others of God’s love revealed to the world in his son Jesus Christ. It may be that we are called to care for others – the sick, the lonely, the young, the old. It may be that we are called to teach or lead or whatever. The calls of God are many in this world. And when we listen, we will hear God calling to us.
But these calls may be difficult. We may not know where the resources will come from to accomplish the ministry. We may not think that we have the ability to do the job given to us by God. If we are not careful we can lose hope or give up before we have even started. It may be tempting to say “I can’t.”
But we are not without hope because the Lord says, “I can!” Just as the Lord was with Jeremiah, he is with us also. He will provide. He will be our strength.
But we must be willing to let him. We cannot remain stubborn and prideful. We have to admit that we cannot do it alone. We need his help. And when we turn to the Lord, he will provide. He will protect. He will lead. He will be our strength. He will hold us up even when the rocks under our feet threaten to slide away.
But when he helps you , don’t forget to turn around and say “Thank you Lord!” because without him, the journey would be impossible.