There are times when we’re asking God the why questions, when we’re weary of life’s demands, when we’re feeling like the only one, when we’re simply too tired to lift a finger, that we cannot stand on our own two feet. Sometimes the “standing on our own two feet” finds its seat in the corner after getting its bell rung. Beaten, bruised, and bloodied, it refuses to step back in the ring.
Although I believe God doesn’t want to see us cowering, “standing on our own two feet” is not His design. This quote is man-made. He may have given us two feet for standing, but He also gave us hands for holding (on to each other). I saw this beautifully displayed this past Sunday. This worship song filled the auditorium and many were lifting their hands in praise:
I believe You’re my healer
I believe You are all I need
I believe You’re my portion
I believe You’re more than enough for me
Jesus, You’re all I need
Then I looked over and saw a mother holding up her grown son. You see, Garrett can’t stand on his own two feet right now due to a car accident. After being in a coma for several weeks and suffering a head injury, doctors said he would have to learn everything over again. For the past year Garrett sat in a wheelchair. A few weeks ago, he stepped into church using a walker. And Sunday, without his wheelchair or walker, this miraculous young man stood leaning in worship, using his right hand to hold up his left so it wouldn’t drop. His mother, much smaller, held onto Garrett’s waist so he wouldn’t fall over. I wept as I witnessed her propping him up. Isn’t this what God asks of all of us?
It reminds me of some guys who helped one of their friends who not only couldn’t stand on his own two feet, but couldn’t stand at all. They made desperate moves to prop their friend up before Jesus. Mark 2:4 – “Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.” Yes, the man got up, took his mat and walked out on his own two feet – but not by himself.
God has laid someone on my heart who needs a little propping. They’ve admitted the struggle in their faith. Bloodied and bruised they’re sitting in the corner. Perhaps they can’t even praise the Lord right now. All I can do is give them a little help standing; after all, I’ve been helped up before.
A special thank you to Garrett Ross and his mother, Cindy, for letting me share their story!
If you’d like a great “pick me up,” for the week, watch and listen to The Healer by Hillsong - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-frSfQiVOo&feature=related
