You need only be still...

I have always hated to hear a christian use the phrase "I had to pull myself up by my bootstraps."  A) what are bootstraps any way and how do you pull yourself up by them?  B)  The theology behind pulling yourself up is all wrong for people who are followers of Christ.  Now I realize it is just  a saying and few people give any thought to the implications behind these words.  But to me, to say this means there was something in our human nature that was able to rescue ourselves, or pull us out of a pit.  As believers we know there is no good thing in us.  No strength apart from the Father.  Scripture says "He raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy from the garbage pile..."  Psalm 113:7.  There is no power of positive thinking, no psychology to unwarp our sin warped minds.   A couple of weeks ago I found myself in the mud.  Or maybe a dark cloud.  I could list a number of reasons of why I think I found myself there but the truth of the matter is it doesn't matter.  I was just there.  Stuck.  I couldn't pray my way out, I couldn't read my Bible out of it.  I was depressed and worn.  I knew the truth but my mere knowledge did nothing for my state.  Like a person trapped in quick sand the harder I fought the lower I sank.  I could not pull myself up by my bootstraps.  Thankfully Terry recognizing where I was, decided to take me away for the weekend.  What Christ did through him I will never forget.  Christ reminded me I only needed to be still.  Terry began to read God's word over me.  I sat very still and listened as the words of Philippians washed over my ears, my mind and my soul.  Words like "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion....that love may abound more and more....do all things without grumbling or complaining...(OUCH) that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world holding fast to the word of life...our citizenship is in heaven and from it we await a Savior who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body...let your reasonableness be known to everyone...do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  I could go on and on.  And as crazy as this sounds Terry read The Heidelberg Catechism.  Now before you hit delete, hang with me.  I realize lots of people shy away from catechisms.  What began as a way for parents to teach their children the foundations of their faith somehow got twisted into that salvation can be attained by memorizing the catchism.  But don't throw the baby out with the dishwater....  There is some wonderful truths taught in a simple way that for a mind troubled with thinking things through clearly, it can offer much hope.  The Heidleberg is a warm-hearted series of questions and answers that remind us of what and why we believe what we do.  I will not list all the questions but I do want to mention one that God used to clear my head.  Question 1.  What is your only comfort in life and death?  A.  That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death— to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ.  He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil.  He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.  Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.
Seriously good stuff, right?  I hope this rambling made sense to you.  God taught me so much that weekend.  We also went on a hike.  A short but steep one.  God spoke to my heart there too.  Life is so much like a hike.  One in deep woods.  One where you have this goal at the end.  One where there will be  a beautiful view or a massive in your face waterfall.  But on the way up you can't see a thing.  And it is so hard that all you can do is look down.  The trail is steep and covered in roots and limbs and pine cones and all sorts of hazards.  So we just keep looking down.  We look down so long that we get tired and want to stop it is so long we want to go back down.  But your husband urges you on. The spirit urges you to press on.  Then finally you make it to the top.  And you look up and there is this beautiful waterfall and it is so close you get wet and you are so glad you didn't quit.  That is life.  Life is a long hard hike with mountains and vistas and waterfalls along the way between valleys and gulches.  But and this is a big but the lifter of our heads is there with us.  There are no bootstraps on this trail.  Just Him.  At times He trains our hands and fingers and feet for the battle and other times He declares He will fight for us, walk for us while He carries us, we need only to be still and silent.  Whatever you are needing this morning, may you know Him, the lifter of our heads. 

Pressing On,
Carrie Smith