The end of my rope
Movement 1: The Rope
Read: We are hard-pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Reflect: Many situations in life make us feel hard-pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. I have talked with many people lately who seem to be at “the end of their rope”. A financial burden, an illness, a death, a relationship struggle, dashed hopes, crushed dreams. Most likely, we have all experienced this “end of my rope” feeling at one time or another in our lives. As we encounter these situations, we grab the “rope of solutions”. We hold tight to this rope, doing what we know how to do to make it through - readjust the budget, seek medical help, begin the grieving process, have that hard conversation. God has given us brilliant minds to use as we problem-solve and put things in place to get through hard times.
But before we pick up the rope, there’s a face we must seek - the face of Jesus. You see, Jesus knew this was coming. This situation does not surprise Him. Deuteronomy 31:8 tells us that He will personally go ahead of us, be with us in the present, and never leave or forsake us. In Him we know we are not crushed, don’t have to go to despair, are not abandoned, and are not destroyed. When situations arise, we must seek His face first.
Pray: Talk to Jesus about a situation you are facing now that has you feeling hard-pressed on every side, perplexed, persecuted, and struck down. He is ready to listen. Hear Him say that He sees you, He hears you, and he can understand why you are feeling the way you are feeling.
Movement 2: Hope is Available
Read: I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:1-3
Reflect: This is one of my mom’s favorite scriptures. It became especially familiar to her when she was going through cancer treatments. Her soul felt downcast and disturbed. She felt as though she was at the bottom of a pit with no way out. She was exhausted physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. But these verses helped her cling to hope. While everyone around her was grasping for the rope of solutions (and she was too, at times), she returned to Jesus every day for reminders of hope. She knew that it would be a long journey. But if she waited patiently, He would set her feet on a rock, give her a firm place to stand, and give her a new sing to sing.
Pray/Journal: Go back to the situation that are facing. Look for signs of hope and praise the Lord for what He is doing during this situation. Implore Him to set your feet on a rock and give you a firm place to stand. Ask Him for a new song to sing. Write down the lines of the song you hear.
Movement 3: His Face
Read: Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:28-31
Reflect: We can be sure that our Triune God is the Victor. And, we are victors through Him. He is the One with the entirety of strength and He shares it with us. He renews us in tough times.
Close your eyes. Picture yourself in the middle of your tough situation. See yourself grasping the rope of solutions. You’ve been putting one hand over the other for quite some time now. The solutions seem to be coming to an end. You can sense the end of the rope coming, but it is fuzzy, cloudy - you can’t quite make it out. For the last time, you put one hand over the other and you feel the frayed edges of your rope.
But...that’s not all you feel.
You feel a soft, yet strong hand. You look up and the fuzziness and cloudiness are gone. All is clear. And you see His face. You saw it when this tough situation started and you see it now - at the seeming end of your rope. He looks lovingly at you and says, “Here I am. Don’t fear. I’ll take it from here.” You hand Him the rope and He welcomes you into His arms.
Prayer through worship: Listen to the song “Surrounded”. Use this time of prayer and worship to fight the battle you are facing.