“. . . neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God . . . Psalm 8 : 39 NIV
Some years ago, close friends of ours had a cute little three-year-old called Bobby. The little boy loved to climb onto a low tree branch or other raised surface and shout, “Daddy, I need you!”
Daddy made a game of rushing to the rescue, calling, “OK Son, Daddy’s here! Jump and I’ll catch you.”
One day his daddy came home from work. As he put down his briefcase he heard a familiar voice. “Daddy, I need you!” He swung round to see Bobby perched on the top of the piano.
“No, Bobby wait!” his father yelled as he dived across the room to catch the child. Too late. Bobby crashed to the ground, hitting his chin on a nearby chair and losing two front teeth. As his father lifted him, the little boy looked accusingly through his tears and wailed, “You didn’t catch me.”
When I heard the story, I though how wonderful it is to know that my Heavenly Father is always there for me, even when I do stupid things. Sometimes I launch out in faith without checking that He’s there. Yet I can be assured that I am always within His reach.
Over to you: Can you think of one time when you launched out ahead of God? Yet He still caught you? Care to share it with us?
SHIRLEY CORDER lives on the coast in South Africa with her husband. Her book, Strength Renewed: Meditations for your Journey through Breast Cancer contains 90 meditations based on some of the ways God's Positioning System directed her through the rough times in the cancer valley. It is available globally in print or online in e-versions.
Please visit Shirley through ShirleyCorder.com, where she encourages writers, or at RiseAndSoar.com, where she encourages those in the cancer valley. You can also meet with her on Twitter or FaceBook. Sign up for her newsletter.
I'm glad our Lord can catch. Being young and inexperienced as a minister I had some great ideas to reach our community with the gospel. I was enthusiastic but our new and small fellowsship said 'yes' but meant 'no'. It wasn't the most well planned, prayed for or motivational time - but God in mercy rescued us, blessed us and taught us (especially me) some important lessons. Forty years later that church is thriving (without me)and lessons learnt have prevented me from 'jumping off the piano' in the same manner. There have been other 'jumps' some approved by God and some presumed by me. Still God is gracious and applies Romans 8:28 constantly.
ReplyDeleteRay thanks for this. You're so right. We made many flawed or presumptuous jumps in ministry too. But somehow the Lord managed to save us in time!
DeleteWhat a wonderful picture of a little boy and a daddy. And an object lesson. Sometimes the people we love and depend on fail us because they are not ready or in a position to catch us.
ReplyDeleteGod is never taken by surprise. He's always ready and in position.
You're right Judith. It's something we always need to remember. Even when we're blindsided, God isn't!
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