FEET ON A ROCK

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. Psalm 40:2 NIV

For you have delivered me from death and my feet

from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life. Psalm 56:13 NIV

Before I had my feet affliction, I would read passages about feet, and think they were great passages. I mean, I have slipped a time or two in my life. I have backpacked, hiked, walked, run and the like. So, I know how important it is to have sure footing.

My one horror story about feet slipping happened when I was repelling years ago, and I recounted it in my blog a while ago. Suffice it to say – slipping over 50 yards, on the face of a rock while holding onto a rope left me with hamburger hands, facing out from the rock and trying not to panic. I am not exactly sure how I slipped, but I was going down, and going down fast! My trusted belayers pulled my rope tight to stop me. I still had quite a way to go to land on the toothpick of a landing that already had people on it and we still had half the face to repel down. Let’s just say I don’t want to repeat that. Ever.

In this affliction with my feet, I am anything but steady or sturdy. My feet are very unsure, I am weak on them, I don’t use them very much and they tire very easily. Uneven surfaces are no longer my friends. I hold onto my husband, my family, anyone who is nearby. I even hold onto the side of the house when I am outside. I sway, tip, trip and bump into things. It’s not pretty and definitely not graceful. I stumble and tumble.

SHOES

One thing Coach told me a while ago was that my closet full of shoes are not for me any longer. And I love my shoes. They are all the wrong style for me going forward, and….get this. My feet will be about 1-2 sizes larger than before my injury. What???? Right. Great. Swell. Fine. And my favorite footwear to wear on the beach – flips – are off-limits. So, what’s this chick to do when she goes to the beach in November? Which by the way is a BIG adventure in light of my current circumstances. We have a house right on the sand, and I will have to wear – you guessed it – my hiking boots! For this Southern California girl who grew up at Huntington Beach, this is definitely a step backwards while eating humble pie.

But what does this have to do with feet slipping and God? Everything. It is God who keeps my feet from slipping. How? First, He lifted me out of the miry clay. That pit of self-pity which has its walls covered in slime. Impossible to get out. God lifted me out and set me on a firm foundation on which to stand. That firm foundation is JESUS. On Christ the solid rock I stand. When I put my full faith in Jesus and trust Him completely, then my footing is firm. I can stand and not sway, stumble or swerve.

In this process I have learned that by digging my toes into Jesus I have grown in my walk with Him. Instead of running to others for help – I run to Him. In times when I want assurance from others on a decision I have made or need to make, I go to God first. Instead of worry, I pray. And I rest in His complete Sovereign will. Folks, this is huge.

ASSURANCE

It is when we cling to Him and rest on the firm foundation of Jesus that we do not slip. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you (Psalm 91:7 NIV). I can be confident that I will not slip in my walk with Jesus.

As I seek His kingdom first and His righteousness, all these things will be added to me (Matthew 6:33).

So, what exactly are all these things? Oh, things that we like to worry about – food, clothing, shelter. Basics. I will go so far as to say shoes. The bottom line is that as I seek Him, no matter the cliff, the rock face, the path, sand, or uneven surface – my feet will not slip because Jesus is my firm foundation, and He is in front of me. He is clearing the path, making it smooth, holding my hand, encouraging me, leading me as the Good Shepherd does. I have no reason to fear. My feet will not slip. I will not stumble.

For someone who literally does this a lot right now, this is very appealing. I can not worry, I can trust. I can believe. How about you?

PRAYER

Thank You Father, that You are my firm foundation. In You I am held fast. Thank You that I have sure footing even in these uncertain times. AMEN