Elevator or Stairs?
Your ears will hear a voice behind you saying, “This is the
way; walk in it.”
Isaiah 30:21
As Chris stood waiting for the elevator, he felt God
suggest, “Take the stairs.” But I’m in a
hurry, Lord he reasoned. And besides, I’m tired…that’s ten flights of
stairs. “Take the stairs.” He heard a second time.
Fine! he silently
expressed his frustration.
As he approached to the fourth floor landing, Chris heard
muffled crying. Cautiously taking the next few steps, he could make out a
woman’s voice, “I can’t do this anymore.” Rounding the next landing, he came
face-to-face with a young woman, seated on the stairs, the step below her wet
with tears. Chris quickly prayed for wisdom. “She needs to know I love her.”
came God’s gentle voice. Chris asked, “Can I help you?”
As the woman’s story unfolded, Chris discovered she had been
contemplating suicide. She was trying to get up the nerve to go to the roof and
jump, believing this would end her problems.
As Chris shared with her about Jesus’ love and His desire
and ability to carry her through her pain, a glimmer of hope appeared in the
woman’s eyes. By the time Chris finished sharing, her desperation had been
replaced by a desire to know the One of whom Chris spoke so highly. Chris would
never forget this morning’s lesson.
†
Though at first resistant, Chris obeyed, and a life was saved.
We’re not sure what his disobedience would have wrought; quite possibly the
woman would have taken her life, losing the opportunity to come to know Jesus, and
making matters worse for those she left behind. Thanks to Chris’s obedience,
we’ll never know.
This lesson applies to us all…in everything we do…at all
times of the day or night…whether some else is watching or not…when we feel
like it, and when we don’t.
Faith is submitting every decision we make to God for
approval, trusting that He always has our best interest, or someone else’s, in
mind, while listening for the Voice from behind, ready to safely lead us
through life.
Not always, yet sometimes, life hangs in the balance.
Wouldn’t it be better to be sure?
Prayer
“Father, guide my
steps today and every day, as I bring each day’s choices to You for wisdom and
guidance. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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