Slipping from the Monkey Bars

“Mom, catch me. I’m slipping!” Have you heard those words before? One of my kids’ favorite things to do at the park is the monkey bars. The irony is that it’s their favorite thing, but they are also terrified of it. Over the years, I have spent so much of my time at parks standing beneath my children as they learn to do the monkey bars.

You know the drill. They start. They get two or three in before their grip starts slipping and down they fall. My job is to simply wrap my arms around their legs the moment their grip slips and catch them before they can fall. I put them on the ground. Then they smile hugely and run over to the stairs so they can climb back up and begin the entire process again.

God Keeps Us From Slipping

God works this same way in our lives. The moment we feel like we are slipping and can’t maintain our grip anymore, God moves in and catches us.

If God hadn’t been there for me, I never would have made it. The minute I said, “I’m slipping, I’m falling,” your love, God, took hold and held me fast. Psalm 94:17,18 MSG

A song that we love to sing at our church is He Will Hold Me Fast by Keith and Kristyn Getty. I love the words of the last verse and chorus.

For my life He bled and died, Christ will hold me fast;
Justice has been satisfied; He will hold me fast.
Raised with Him to endless life, He will hold me fast
‘Till our faith is turned to sight, When He comes at last!

He will hold me fast, He will hold me fast; For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast.

He Will Hold Me Fast by Keith and Kristyn Getty

He is Watching and Waiting, Ready to Catch Us

The thing about slipping is that you have to be close to falling. When my kids are on the monkey bars, I could just make things easy for them and carry them across. When they are little, I do just that. I hold them up while they grasp the bars. I bear all their weight, so they’re not really doing it. They just think they are.

As they get older, though, I let them do it on their own. I’m just there to catch them if they fall. I think God works the same way in our lives. He doesn’t just do life for us. Rather, He watches and waits, ready to catch us when we slip and keep us from falling. The Psalmist reminds us of this truth in Psalm 116.

For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. Psalm 116:8 KJV

When Life Falls Apart

When we feel like we are at the end of ourselves, it’s God that rescues us every time. You may feel like you’re slipping today. Maybe you feel like you’ve lost your grip on everything around you. Life doesn’t make sense. Things are not working out. You’ve worked so hard, yet it feels like it’s all ready to fall to pieces around you.

When we feel this way, there is only one answer. We have to look up. Call out to the only One who can keep you from falling. Know that when you do call out to God, He will hear you and will be there to catch you before you fall.

Verses to Remind Us that God Hears Us

Here are a few verses to remind ourselves that God hears us when we pray to Him, when we feel like we’re slipping.

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers… I Peter 3:12 KJV

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13 KJV

And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: I John 5:14 KJV

Encouragement for Today

Whatever it is that you are facing today, God is more than aware of it. If you feel like everything is falling apart around you and you’re loosing your grip, maybe it’s time to call out to God. Then step back and watch what happens when He steps in.

For more encouragement on this topic, read Finding the Momentum You Need to Keep Going.