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The Difference Between Tripping and Falling

by | Faith

It seems like yesterday I was teaching our children how to walk. It required a lot of handholding, encouraging, and praising… but I was happy to do it.

Inevitably, there were times when they’d be going a little too fast and would trip on something, most commonly their own feet.

When they tripped, there was only one thing that made the difference as to whether they’d fall down… were they holding their father’s hand?

If they weren’t, a tumble ensued, as did scrapped knees and a lot of tears.

However, if they were holding my hand, I’d give a little tug to keep gravity at bay. They’d find their footing and on we’d walk.

As children of God, when we endeavor to honor Him with our bodies, we’d be wise to keep holding His hand. Why? Because there are cracks in the sidewalk just waiting to trip us up.

Catered work lunches. Injuries. Church donuts. Hectic family lives. Fast food. Emergencies. Long days and short nights.

Any of these can trip us up. That doesn’t mean we have to fall.

Psalm 37:23-24 reads, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

So what is required of us? To “delight in him.” To put Him first. To rely on Him as the source of our strength and joy. To walk faithfully, hand in hand with the Father who loves us so.

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.” ‑Psalm 37:23-24

If you are seeking to honor God with the body He has entrusted to you, start first by putting Him at the center of your efforts. Every day, one day at a time, take His hand and don’t let go. You might stumble, but He can keep you from falling… and He is happy to do it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Struggling with weight as a kid, I transformed my life through fitness in my 20s. I came to understand that God cares how we steward our bodies, just like He cares how we steward our time, talent, money and more. So I launched Body Tithe University in 2012 and shortly after, released The Body Tithe Devotional.

Click to learn more →

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