Translate

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Wall of Life

A long time ago, in a state far, far away, well maybe not that far away, where many memories of my childhood still linger. On my twelfth birthday, we moved to Rapid City, South Dakota. We moved from San Antonio, Texas where the heat during the summer was 105 and the winters were mild. I can only remember the snow twice out of the seven years of living there.

We moved during the fall and the first snow of the winter in Rapid City was relentless. Blizzards and no not the kind you can get at Dairy Queen. Blizzards like the ones Laura Ingals Wilder experienced on The Little House on the Prairie. There was no school and the mail usually runs because of snow tires and chains they used to get around. When I was getting ready to go outside to get the mail, I opened the front door, and it was completely white. A wall of snow stared right back at me, and it looked like a huge polar bear with its back up against the door, blocking my exit.

Literally, I had to go out the back door and dig myself out of the wall of snow, which blocked my front door. I have never seen so much snow that first year and the temperature had to be at least 10 degrees. One of the benefits of being a kid is shoveling snow for your parents and at the same time taking your time to play in it.
I never really thought about the wall of snow, but life can be a wall sometimes.

Ever been faced with a wall? Walls are a reminder to stop and to reflect and not necessarily to make you go around. In 2 Samuel 22 he writes, “You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into a light. With your help, I can advance against a troop; with my God, I can scale a wall. "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”

Sometimes, the walls we face, serve as a reminder of One who is in command. I face a wall now in my life with a new career. It serves as a reminder, I can’t do it by myself. Walls serve not as a hindrance, but as a reminder that you can’t go through life and do things by yourself. The walls of Jericho were the first walls the Israelites encountered. They were used to doing things on their own and God was showing them to trust in Him. Balaam a prophet had his foot stuck between his donkey and a wall. There was an angel blocking his way. Balaam wanted to do things his way, but the wall served as a reminder of waiting patiently.

No matter what situation you are in and you feel you are up against the wall, walk backwards and reflect on the purpose of the wall. Walls are there to reflect and to draw closer to the one who needs you. Don’t give up because you can’t seem to get a job right away. Don’t give up. The walls can be tumbling down. Be encouraged to know there is One who can help you scale the wall or tear down those walls. Even walls in relationships can be torn down. Don’t lose heart. It is by FAITH (Heb 11:30) that your walls can fall. Are you willing for Him to help you overcome? Remember, it is a reminder you can’t go through life doing things on your own. As Samuel said, “the LORD turns my darkness into a light. With your help, I can advance against a troop; with my God, I can scale a wall. "As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”