Have You Ever Tripped Before?

There I was...six months pregnant with my family from Oregon. Ahead of us was a huge mountain with a path winding it's way up. Beautiful, rainy day. Dark clouds loomed above the mountain soon to deposit some more rain. There was some snow on the mountain's top, sides, and even against the path. My husband was there, my parents and my aunt and uncle. Along the way we heard a strange sound. Loud and powerful and constant, kind-of like an airplane, but we didn't pay much attention. Up the right side of the path, the mountain's wall slid down a few small streams of snow. Like mini avalanches. Nothing to be alarmed by. We just stepped out of the way. All the time we could hear the thunderous noise.

Soon we had traveled awhile. We enjoyed the walk and each other's company. When all the sudden, we looked up and shooting over the top of the mountain the noise came into sight...an avalanche! Needless to say, we ran! My family jumped out of it's way by springing off the path. Being six months pregnant I could not move that fast and the avalanche was coming quickly. My dad thought it was quite funny as I was pulled down the mountain by the snow, like waves in the ocean pulling a helpless swimmer out to sea!

Now at this point I have to tell you this was a dream. I'm sure some of you were going into fit's thinking that my dad was some kind of jerk to think it was so funny to see me being overtaken by the snow! Gratefully, he is NOT that kind of person. He would have gladly made sure I was okay before laughing!!

I was thinking about this dream and I had a thought concerning sin. Remember the sound we could hear but carelessly ignored? Avalanche. Remember the small mini avalanche that tripped us up just a bit? Signs of something worse, something deadly. And we ignored it.

Too many times in our walk of life we KNOW the signs of sin. We know what will trip us up the quickest. Yet, do we, at that moment, run? Or, do we wait until we are overcome to make a decision to try to get out from under the sin which has so easily entangled us?

I Corinthians 10:12-13 says this:

"So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man.

And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it."

PRAISE HIM!

The temptations are real, the warning signs are different for each of us. You know what will cause you to sin, usually. You know what to avoid. You know that there are indications that will tell you if you are in danger. The Word reveals those things. We must be able to identify them.
BUT, when you do sin and are overcome, praise God He is faithful he will provide a way out and you can stand up under it.

I didn't tell you the end of my dream. I was not buried in the snow. I knocked me down and back, but did not smother me. And being six months pregnant? It hindered me from moving rapidly. What in your life makes you pregnant with obstacles to real freedom? Pride? Anger? Unforgiveness? Busyness?

Take inventory this week and spend time with God discussing hindrances and temptations that can trip you up! He is faithful and will not let you be overcome.

Remember, unlike the rescuers in the real mountains who give up after a few days of searching for victims, Christ will dig and dig and dig to free you! He will not leave you to die in your sin! That's why HE died! What freedom, what joy!

Enjoy the riches of his grace this week!
Natalie