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Being Carried through Life's Sticky Situations

by Julia Benson

"Keera, Keera," says Kiersten, my toddler daughter, when she wants me to carry her down our staircase. I try to encourage her to come down herself, and sometimes she does. She's a whiz at climbing up, but climbing down is another story. Kiersten has even reached the point where she sneaks upstairs, which in itself wouldn't be so bad, except it could get her into trouble when she tries to sneak back down.

Sometimes I find that I sneak myself into some sticky situations where if I try to sneak back out, I get myself into trouble. I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm not alone in this phenomenon. Sin can be tricky like that. We see some sort of glittering temptation at the top of the stairs and like an impulsive child we deftly climb the steep steps to grab the forbidden gold. Disappointment often ensues when we reach the top because we've been suckered in by Satan to break away from our Father in heaven. And for what? Fool's gold coveted by a fool.

Often when I find myself at the top of the stairs and look down only to find a treacherous descent to get back to where I was, I expect God to carry me through, not unlike Kiersten's demand for me to "keera" her. Sometimes he does. Sometimes he knows that I just don't have the strength or the ability to get myself out of some sticky situations, so he lovingly carries me through. Sometimes, however, he knows that I need to learn a lesson so he makes me go it alone (at least that's what it feels like.) But then, after really thinking about the situation, I realize, I never go it alone. Maybe God doesn't carry me through every hard part of my life, but he never leaves me to fend for myself. He is always there.

So, for now, I still "keera" Kiersten down the steps occasionally, but I also let her come down herself if I'm close by. I want to teach her how to do it right so that she won't continue to find herself in the sticky staircase situation.

Psalm 20:1 -2 says "May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. May he send you help from the sanctuary and grant you support from Zion." So, I know that when I find my self in need of the help of my F ather in Heaven, all I have to do is call upon his name.

Julia Benson is a freelance writer who lives in a small town in northeast Iowa. A former school teacher, Julia now spends her time at home writing and taking care of her two-year-old daughter and husband. Julia attends an Adventist church in Wisconsin.

TSS

January - February 2005 The Sabbath Sentinel