"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."
There is a saying when someone is going through a hard time. You have heard it said that someone might be at the end of their rope, or, they might be ready to quit and have no more strength to hang on. When difficulty comes to your life, you are supposed to "tie a knot at the end of the rope and hang on." By doing this we are saving our life and giving ourselves a chance.
The problem with this philosophy is that we never really get to a place where we need the divine help of God. If we are still in control then we never allow for the intervention of God.
This is classic America. I can do all things. I'm in control. I've got this. And this is everything that is wrong about humankind. From the beginning of time, this mentality and desire has been what has placed man in trouble. We have tried to find our own ways in every generation. And every generation has experienced the same thing. Failure. Are we happy about the place we find ourselves in today? Look at where our efforts have placed us:
-ECONOMIC COLLAPSE
-FAMILY DENIGRATION
-SEXUAL REDEFINITION
-DEVALUING OF LIFE
-LOSS OF TRUST IN THE CHURCH
-VIOLENCE AND BULLYING
-SOCIAL MEDIA OUT OF CONTROL
Look at your life. Are you always trying to "pick yourself up" and make the most of it? Are you constantly doing things on your own? Look at America. Are you satisfied with where our efforts have placed us? It's not like we are living in the 'American Dream' anymore. It really looks more like an 'American Nightmare'. Two examples of this lack of total trust in God:
First, we have seen a rise in terrorism. Just in the past 15 years, we have come so close to a collapse as a nation. We started the century and the last decade with terrorism attacks on 9/11 that brought us to the end of our rope. But, we tied a knot at the end of the rope and did not fully ask for the intervention of God. For several weeks we saw a contrition and even a rise in church attendance. A contrition and attendance that some called a spiritual renewal. However, the renewal was actually short-lived.
Second, there is the economic crash that began several years ago, but, is still an eminent threat to our nation's stability. From corporate scandals to the government economic collapse, there is a real threat to our sustainability. And how are we going to get out of this? Raise the debt ceiling? Cut spending? We are so good at hanging on. At doing everything we can in our power to save ourselves.
What I want to challenge America today with is this thought of total surrender. Instead of "tying the knot", would it be better that we let go and found ourselves in complete desperation? If we always save ourselves in the midst of our difficulties, then how will we ever experience the intervention of God and a true spiritual awakening? Maybe America needs to see a national effort of seeking God and His divine help. My prayer is for our nation to realize that there is a way that seems right to man, and the end is destruction. And, there is a way that seems right to God, and that desperation leads to the end that is life. That we would be willing to ask God to step in and not do everything in our strength to hang on.
Who knows, maybe when we let go of the rope, the Lord will catch us and uphold us with His strong and righteous hand.
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