“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor. 10:13
We rode around in the woods on a four wheeler for hours, trying to find our way out. Thankfully we had filled up the gas tank right before we ventured off into the woods this time. We weren’t even teenagers yet so our perception of time and direction wasn’t very accurate. We were lost and nobody knew we were or where we had gone. I distinctly remember the moment I finally realized that we might be going around in circles. Lost!
How in the world were we ever going to find our way out?
That was the beginning of a story about my sister and I when we were kids. However, there are a lot of people out there who are experiencing similar situations. Not literally in the woods like we were, but trying to find their way out of undesirable life situations. Have you ever felt like you were in that position yourself? I know I have.
People walk around wearing “I’m fine” masks and acting like all is well while on the inside there is much unseen turbulence. Burned out, stressed out and break down have become normal, everyday phrases these days. Think about it, when was the last time we said it ourselves, “I can’t take much more of this”? If we don’t feel ashamed and afraid to admit it, I imagine we’ve probably all been there a time or two.
I have good news for anyone who might be feeling this way right now: Don’t give up, there IS a way out.
This verse has been rattling around in my head for weeks now.
You see, when people are in these proverbial dark, woodsy places they feel like they are all alone. Why is this? I think one main reason is because so many are afraid to admit we’re there or have been there. There is shame and the fear of being labeled a certain way so its kept it to ourselves. How different would it be if someone shared their story? Here’s a fact: everyone struggles with something sometime or another. We’re human and there is nothing new under the sun.
True, there are people struggling to find a path leading out. No doubt. If we will only pause and believe that what we are feeling today is not going to last forever. We may feel overwhelmed right now but we can overcome too. He has made a way of escape. It won’t always be this way.
John 14:6 says, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:” and that, my friend, is our answer and hope in every situation. We don’t have to stay trapped where we are today. We don’t have to give up on life, we just have to turn our lives over completely to Him and let Him work on our behalf.
There is absolutely nothing we cannot handle with Him, but we can handle very little without Him.
Sure, we may feel like we can’t go on, but our feelings lie to us and distract us from the truth. We may go through things which seem unbearable, but when that happens let us remind ourselves, and each other, to cast it all at His feet. We weren’t designed to carry some loads we try to manage. Our way of escape in every situation is to go through it with Jesus by our side. He gave us Himself! He is our way of escape.
I made a different turn somewhere in the middle of the woods and we found our way onto a street. From there, we stopped at a house and asked to use a phone to call someone to come for us. Yeah, that was back in the day when we didn’t have cell phones or GPS. We couldn’t find our way, but the ones who were watching over us knew the way and we were home before we knew it even though we had wandered miles away.
The Lord will do that for us too. No matter where we find ourselves, we only need to make a different turn and call out to Him. He is always listening, knows where to find us, and we never have to be ashamed or wonder if He’ll come for us. He loves you and I too much to leave us overwhelmed. I’m not saying it will get better immediately or over night, but in time, this too shall pass...when we give it to Jesus. Don’t tell me He won’t do it! I believe. Hope you do too.