Learning to Walk

Isn’t it funny how we seem to over-complicate the simple? We allow our own thoughts to work against us in our pursuit of just about everything. The way that we think about things is usually defined by our life experiences and so, we tend to lend either a positive or negative spin to what we are trying to accomplish.

When we are born we are totally at the mercy of those who are taking care of us. Over time though, we learn to turn over, crawl, and eventually to walk. No one would ever think that in the process of learning to walk, you could just take off running. On the contrary, before you can take off running, you must fall and get bruised and beat up sometimes. The wonderful part is that in the beginning stages, you have so many who are excited to see your first steps and they enthusiastically cheer you on. What happens though once you start walking? Do those same people stick around and continue to cheer you on or after a while, do they lose interest and move on to the next exciting thing? Now that you have that image fully in place, let’s think about your spiritual walk.

I can remember first getting saved and how there were so many in my corner cheering me on and excited to see me come to Christ. However, over time, these same people lost focus on my walk and started living their own lives, as should be expected. Unfortunately, though, this new phase of your life can get lonely because now you still have to learn to walk without tripping over your feet. Or you’re trying to run away from the past life that keeps trying to chase you down and overtake you. When you are first born again you are on cloud 9 and it seems like nothing could possibly go wrong but eventually, the enemy that has been trying to weasel his way back into your life, he rears his ugly head and starts the temptation cycle. There are so many ways in which he tempts us but let’s see if one of the ways he has tempted you is on this list:

  • There are too many messed up people in church. Don’t forget, you are still one of them.
  • This Christian life is too hard, you didn’t have any of these issues before you started following Christ. You have always had issues in life, you’re just more aware of them now.
  • You know, I think I can do this on my own, why bother God with this small thing? God cares about everything you’re dealing with, even the smallest thing.
  • If everyone is going to judge me for my past, I might as well be in the world. You are not being looked down upon by others nearly as much as you believe you are.
  • I have fallen down so many times, I just need to give up. No, you need to get up, not give up. The only way you lose is if you quit.
  • No one will ever accept me because of my past. Jesus accepted you, if you only have that, that’s enough.
  • I started out this walk so well but I have slidden so far away that there is no way back. No matter how far away you run, God is there with you, and He will never leave you or forsake you. If that is the case, just turn around and you are back where you belong, start from there.

The list goes on and on because even though we have only been around for so many years, depending on your age, the devil has been around since the beginning and knows just where we are the most vulnerable and he attacks us there.

I don’t know what you are dealing with or going through, but I know one thing above all else. God is for you and He is not against you. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He has known you since before you were in your mother’s womb. He is your strength when you are weak. The most important thing that you can do is turn to Him, the one who created the universe, and place your problems in His hands. You may not have the strength to carry your burden, but He has the strength to demolish it. The last and main thing I know is this, He gave His life for you so that you may live and so that you would turn to Him. It doesn’t matter how many times you have fallen, stand back up, dust yourself off, and start again, and remember, if there is only one cheering you on and it is Jesus, He is more than enough.

If you need someone to talk to or pray with or who will pray for you, I am here and you are always welcome to reach out.