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finished sharing, her desperation had been replaced by a desire to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.
And 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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