An Invitation to Stand Even When You Feel Like You Can’t Get Up

Trying. Falling. Learning. Discovering. Growing. Discomfort. Struggle. Trying again. It’s all part of this complicated, sometimes painful, glorious life. But each time we get knocked down, Jesus extends His hand inviting us and empowering us to stand again, to try again, to become more of the person He always intended us to be. Laura L. Smith’s writing is like the warm, comforting scent of sourdough baking in my oven. Her latest book, Brave Woman, Mighty God, reminds us we can bravely face whatever we encounter today, not because of anything we’ve done or said, but because our mighty God gives us what we need. It’s a joy to welcome Laura to the farm’s table today…

Guest Post by Laura L. Smith

We hear calls to action all over our culture, from mantras of “let’s go!” to “slay the day” to “shake it off.” I mean, sure, we want to get up and get going and not let a dang thing keep us down.

But it’s not that easy.

I’ve tried.

When my dad left when I was young, I tried to get all A’s, follow the rules, and keep quiet to show him I was a good girl, that if he came back, he shouldn’t leave again, and to show myself that I could handle it.

When my high school boyfriend and I broke up, I decided to become a full-on flirt, because I was fine with the breakup. Right?

I could rise above it and get other guys to like me. It was a horrible strategy, but at the time it felt like a way I could get up after the breakup.

After college there was a recession, and jobs were scarce. After a year of interviews, rejections, and waiting tables to pay my bills, I landed a great job in marketing. I meticulously planned professional outfits, arrived at work early and left late, throwing myself into my job. I could shake off the previous rejections and prove to myself and the world that I’d always been capable of a thriving career. Couldn’t I?

The problem with trying to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps is it’s way easier said than done. And even if we muster up the strength or courage to rise up for a while, it’s difficult to sustain. Another argument, expense, insult, or rejection can knock us off our feet all over again.

“I learned how to stand again, not on my accomplishments, relationships, strength, or willpower but on the loving, powerful, steadfast faithfulness of my Savior.“

How can the woman whose husband cheated on her simply “shake it off”? How can you “slay the day” after someone you love has died? How can you just “wash” the pain of abuse or trauma off “your face”?

You can’t. Not on your own.

When I stopped trying to do it by myself and begged Jesus to help me, slowly, little by little, I learned how to stand again, not on my accomplishments, relationships, strength, or willpower but on the loving, powerful, steadfast faithfulness of my Savior.

For a girl in the Bible, it was the same. There was no way she could get up on her own—no matter what she or anyone else did. But then Jesus pulled her to her feet.

Her dad, Jairus, approached Jesus in a large crowd and begged Him to heal his dying daughter (Mark 5:22–23). Jesus had compassion and went with Jairus. But remember they had to make their way through a crowd.

… some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:35–36)

With that, Jesus accompanied Jairus to his house. What was Jairus thinking as they walked through the streets? Jesus told Jairus to “believe.” I’m sure he wanted to, but could he? When they arrived, everyone was weeping over the loss of Jairus’s daughter.

[Jesus] went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.”

He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished (verses 39, 41–42).

“…Jesus takes all that pressure off. Can you hear Jesus speaking to your heart, “Rise up, little girl. You can be brave. I’ve got you. I’m the one pulling you up.”

The girl died.

Jesus told her to get up.

And she did.

The girl couldn’t work harder, eat healthier, be more productive, do better, or achieve one more thing. She was dead.

We put so much pressure on ourselves to get ourselves up. But Jesus takes all that pressure off. Can you hear Jesus speaking to your heart, “Rise up, little girl. You can be brave. I’ve got you. I’m the one pulling you up.”

No matter how far down you’ve fallen, how much you’re struggling to stand, how heavy the weight is that’s keeping you down, Jesus can empower you to get up and walk forward.

If you’re anything like me, you want Jesus to say, “Talitha koum,” and immediately you want to be able to shake off and wash off and slay the day.

Sometimes it works like that. You encounter Jesus and throw down whatever you’re addicted to. You’re miraculously healed of a physical or mental ailment. The check arrives and gets you out of debt. The person who was tormenting you leaves town. But more often it’s a process.

For me, it’s taken years of praying, reading God’s Word, seeing a Christian counselor, and sharing hard memories and false narratives with my most trusted people to be able to fully believe how much Jesus loves me, that He’ll never leave me, that I don’t have to prove myself to Him.

Yet even when we rise, sometimes we still fall.

“Little girl, get up! I have so much for you. An abundant life. I have love with no strings attached, endless grace, joy, and peace. Get up! I’ll empower you to stand.“

A trigger. A memory. A setback.

Any of those things might send us spiraling downward. But Jesus has His loving hand on us. No matter what comes our way. He’s there beside our figurative beds when we’re unable to stand. He loves, encourages, and empowers us to share our struggle with someone we trust, send that text, attend one more recovery meeting, set boundaries that protect us. Jesus will put the right verse, sermon, conversation, movie, or book in front of us just when we need it to help us get back on our feet.

Yes, the world will try to keep knocking us down.

But mighty Jesus continues to call and empower you and me to “Talitha koum” daily.

This is how we were meant to live. Up. Revived. Alive.

I had talitha koum inked on my ankle so I can see this truth daily. But even if I didn’t, Jesus would continue to tell me, “Little girl, get up! I have so much for you. An abundant life. I have love with no strings attached, endless grace, joy, and peace. Get up! I’ll empower you to stand.”

He’s calling this exact same thing to you.

Laura L. Smith is a best-selling author, speaker, and podcaster whose mission is to tear down lies so we can live in the life-giving truths of Christ’s love. She loves Jesus, her prince-charming of a husband, their four young adult kids, the sound of church bells, the taste of mochas, and the freedom and joy found running along wooded trails. Laura’s newest book, Brave Woman, Mighty God reminds us that the same mighty force of the Holy Spirit that empowered the women of the Bible to stand up, say yes, fight for justice, be the change, use their gifts, break toxic cycles, and so much more lives inside each of us. Find Laura at www.laurasmithauthor.com and order Brave Woman, Mighty God here.

{Our humble thanks to Kregel Publications for their partnership in today’s devotional.}