Hold Fast in Hard Times — Domino Effect (Day 30)
Succumb (Verb): to fail to resist (pressure, temptation, or some other negative force)
In January, Linda shared her “UNword” for 2014 and invited her readers to consider:
Who don’t you want to be as we forge ahead into this year? What don’t you want to be wasting your time and energy on anymore? What bugaboo, character trait, moral defect, sin, habit, or thorn in the flesh are you absolutely done with?
I contemplated what the antithesis of “Hold Fast” might be, and I settled upon “succumb.”
Rather than live sacrificially, I choose selfishness.
Instead of being transformed, I conform to negative thought patterns.
I doubt my identity in Christ, and define my makeup by comparing myself to others.
Isolation replaces community and connection.
My greatest possession becomes a grudge, rather than His great love.
I choose to capitulate, rather than conquer.
Let’s face it. Life is hard. It’s easy to fall into a hole when we can’t see it coming. But, those who Hold Fast learn to walk differently. Tonight my pastor shared an illustration that highlighted this truth:
THERE’S A HOLE IN MY SIDEWALK
Autobiography in Five Short Chapters
By Portia Nelson
Chapter One
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost …. I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.
Chapter Two
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I pretend that I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.
Chapter Three
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in … it’s a habit … but, my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.
Chapter Four
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.
Chapter Five
I walk down another street.
As a believer, my life is not a cosmic game of dominoes where circumstances out of my control create a wave that crashes in and causes me to fall down over and over again. Today, I can choose to surrender to my Savior — He will walk with me all the way.
Something to think about…
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