Sometimes I picture life like walking a high wire suspended between two skyscrapers. The going is slow and often difficult. Finding faith to balance is crucial. If we lose our faith and balance we can fall off on fear on one side and despair on the other side.
Maintaining faith and hope are not easy. The winds of assault are contrary to us. One misstep and we fall into our fears. Fall the other way and we give way to despair and a fog like mist that clouds out the sun rays of hope. How do you maintain your balance.
While reading something today on the famous pastor Charles Spurgeon, a quote from him really grabbed my attention. As I sit thinking about faith, fear, and despair his quote hits home.
Let me give another analogy first. The door of life swings on a large hinge. If it swings one way we get bolted into depression. If the door swings the other way to freedom and to hope. Which way the door swings is important.
On any give day the door can swing the wrong way and we can become imprisoned to despair. No amount of pushing and shoving can unbolt the door setting us free. Here is Spurgeon's quote. "The iron bolt which so mysteriously fastens the door of hope and holds our spirits in gloomy prison needs a heavenly hand to push it back."
Many reading this today know what Spurgeon is talking about. There are times when the gloomy prison of despair cannot be unbolted by therapy, reading, talking with family and friends, or trying to gain a positive attitude. Sometimes the bolt on that locked door is so heavy it can only be moved open by the heavenly hand of God.
He alone can push that bolt open with the slightest effort restoring our faith and our hope. While locked in that prison all you may see in every direction is hopelessness, anxiety, fear, and despair. From your perspective it may seem like you will never be free again nor ever see the bright light of hope as on a cloudless day. Just when it appears all is lost God steps in and with His pinky pushes the bolt opening the door and setting us free.
The sad truth is that though His heavenly hand pushes the bolt away and opens the door many choose to dwell in the dungeon shadows of depression rather than to walk and bask in marvelous light. God offers us freedom from fear and despair. He has already opened the door. All we have to do is embrace that freedom by faith and cling to it.
Yet many prefer the familiarity of the shadows of sorrow and the dungeon of despair than to walk out with those heavy chains broken. Why would any person choose to live that way for moment, a day, or a lifetime? There is twisted comfort in depression. Though tattered and dirty, depression is like an old coat that needs to be replaced but we find comfort in it. We still find a small measure of security in the familiar confines of despair. Jesus is offering a seat by the fire in the refuge of His presence if we will receive it.
O that God would push the bolt open on despair and take us by the hand leading us out. He will not force us out. He could. He lets us choose. We must choose, once free, to remain balanced on top of that high wire. We choose the path of faith or we choose fear and despair.
He pushes the bolt open with His heavenly hand. May we spring to our feet and run for freedom. Once outside living on the high wire may we stay balanced in faith and hope.
Romans 12:12 (NASB)
12
rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
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