We Fall Down
In my newsletter this week, I would like to share a short story. When I was little, I use to get out in the street and practice riding my bike with my dad. He would follow behind me while running so I could learn how to ride my bike just like my friends in the neighborhood. His loyalty to me was priceless! For this reason, I trusted his care for me because I knew he would do his best to be there to protect me if I should fall. Unfortunately, one day my bike got away from my dad and I did not know how to stop and I did not keep my eyes on what I was doing. So, you guessed it, I crashed and skinned up my knees and elbows and all I wanted was my dad’s comfort. Needless to say, he did not disappoint, because while I was laying there crying, he came running and picked me up off the pavement and consoled me. The love and support he gave, helped make my physical pain less noticeable. Though I still had bumps and bruises he continued to encourage me to get right back up on that bike and try it again. Though with tons of practice, I eventually was able to ride with ease. I know it would have been different if I did not have my father’s love and support through that learning experience.
In the Bible, in the book of Matthew 14, we see a similar story with a man named Peter. As Peter and the other disciples were out in the boat one morning, a storm came up and tossed them around to the point that they all feared for their lives. At that moment, their fear trumped their faith. But this did not matter because the Heavenly Father- Jesus, came toward them while He was walking on the water. He knew that His children were scared and in trouble. He knew He was able to help rescue and comfort them. Jesus told the disciples “Do not to be afraid”. The disciples continued to fear the storm as well as the person who was speaking to them because they thought this man was a ghost instead of Jesus. As you can see there was little faith. However, to prove a point, Peter was going to challenge this person and said if you are really Jesus, then let me walk on water also. So, Peter gets out of the boat and starts to walk on water but as soon as he takes his eyes off of Jesus, he begins to sink. But as Peter was sinking in the water, he said “Save me Lord”. At that moment Jesus reaches down to save Peter. How many of us have fallen short like this and taken our eyes off of Jesus? Do our circumstances mimic the actions of the disciples and allow us to lose faith? Do we let fear trump our faith? I would like to encourage you to remember He is always there to pull us up, we just have to trust that He is enough to sustain us - do you believe this?
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
Romans 3:23-24
Chaplain Tracey Burns
Reflection Questions:
Do you have a habit of taken your eyes off of Jesus when the busyness of life takes over?
Are you making sure you create a routine for yourself so that you have time in the Word of God?
How are you growing your faith with Christ so you can have full confidence that you can trust Him?
Bonus: Great song (if you are interested listens to this and asks), When you are down and can’t pick yourself up do you ask the Heavenly Father for help and say let your holy spirit “Fall on Me”