The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe. - Proverbs 18:10
As a little girl, I was obsessed with swings—the rhythm, the soaring, and all the exhilaration! Once on a family outing, I noticed a nearby swing and quickly brought it to my dad’s attention. He knew I longed to give it a whirl but beneath this particular swing was a huge trench brimming with mud. It would be extremely difficult to maneuver onto the swing without getting soiled.
Despite the challenge, my dad stood on the edge of the mire, extended his reach just far enough to pull the swing’s chain towards him, lifted me carefully onto the seat and began pushing me into flight. I wanted to go higher and he was only too happy to oblige. Until that one push—the one that sent my little rear end sailing clear off that swing and landed me—you guessed it—face down in that cesspool of muck!
I was covered in mud from my newly-washed hair to the tips of my tennis shoes. Every inch of my body was drenched in sludge. As it turned out, I was completely unharmed, except for my giant-sized, tearful emotions. My dad immediately scooped me into his arms and was profusely apologetic for his unintentional role in this mishap. But he couldn’t contain the occasional chuckle that escaped his sincere demeanor. Looking back, it must have been quite the spectacle.
Sometimes we aim for the spectacular and become the spectacle instead. It happens to all of us at some point. It’s part of being human. It’s disappointing, humbling and sometimes embarrassing. Lucky for us, God is there when we fall on our face. His love remains steady and true. Covered with mud or steeped in embarrassment, He’s waiting with comfort and encouragement. His arms are open wide.
ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS
Spend a moment thinking about how reassuring God’s constant presence is in your life. Whether we embarrass ourselves or experience great disappointments, He is there with open arms.