I love adventure. Always have. This day was no exception. The beauty of the Grand Canyon, with its exquisite vistas of rusty orange and sand, was beckoning me to come to the edge and see the depths of the vast crevice below. After I tested the rocks, I confidently plopped down on the side of a cliff and looked down at the mighty gorge below.
“What are you doing?!” my panicked friend asked.
“I’m just looking. This mountain’s not going anywhere,” I replied casually.
“But you don’t know that. Those rocks could shift, and you could fall!”
“I tested the ground first. There’s nothing loose here. I’m perfectly safe.”
Only I wasn’t. While it would be unlikely that solid rock could shift, it does happen. People die every year at the Grand Canyon doing exactly what I was doing – dangling over the edge. And even if the rock stayed put, a wrong shift on my part would also equal my demise.
Clearly, I left that day unscathed. And there’s nothing wrong with having a sense of adventure. Yet as I reflect, I also see a strong metaphor in my experience.
It’s no wonder the edge has always held a certain fascination for me. I love to push myself, to test my limits, mentally, physically and spiritually. This trait has been a blessing in my life in many, many ways. On the flipside of my strengths, however, lie my weaknesses. And there is also a part of me that can run to the edge of sin.
So, there are some other edges I’ve come face-to-face with. The edges of addiction, promiscuity, and crippling insecurity. Depression, pride, and unchecked anger are a few more. These edges don’t come with a safety net. There’s no “testing the ground” to see how close I can get without falling--though I naively thought I could. And when the edge gives way, as it inevitably does, it pulls the life right out of you.
Suddenly, the craving for what is bad and harmful becomes a siren call from which it’s hard to escape. The temporary rush and mental relief of being able to momentarily forget all that is challenging in life fill you with an enormous sense of satisfaction. The endorphins get released; dopamine floods the veins. In the moment, it’s easy to forget.
That’s the cost of getting close to the edge. You lose your natural fear. You push down the natural aversion to that which hurts you. Then, you wake up next to someone you barely know. Or to track marks you can’t erase or the words you can’t retrieve. Or the time you lost from endlessly web or channel suffering. Relationships get broken over the edge. Thoughts get scrambled. Everyone gets hurt around you, especially yourself.
Shame washes in like the inevitable tide. The enemy, who goaded you over the edge to in the first place, mocks you for being so weak. So vulnerable. Failures begin to parade before you like a horror movie, reminding you of every wrong choice, every bad decision.
Another lie eagerly joins the chorus, the very powerful lie of, “I can’t change. I can never be different. This can never be different. I’m not worth anything anymore anyway to anyone.”
And so, the process begins again. Escape and temporary freedom whisper to you, beckoning with lies and half-truths. The enemy delights in watching your repeated falls, savoring every stumble. He revels in the anger that wells up, in the lies we tell ourselves and others. Blame-shifting becomes more pronounced. The resentment you carry gets fed and nurtured. Before long, it takes more and more to escape--greater risks, higher doses. All the while, that list of brokenness and failure continue to grow, fueled by the spreading venom ugly choices bring.
“What a wretched person I am! Who will rescue me from this body where sin and death reign so supremely?” (Romans 7:24)
That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? How do we break free from the negative thought and behavior patterns that the enemy of our souls uses to destroy us? We can’t change ourselves. We lack the will. Fortunately, there is a simple yet powerful answer to that question in the very next verse:
“Thank God! It has been done by Jesus Christ our Lord. He has set me free.”
Friends, it doesn’t really matter where you find yourself at today. It doesn’t really matter where you’ve been. I’m here as a living, breathing testimony to tell you God can change your life. Yes, even you. No matter how broken your thinking. No matter how numerous your sins. There is nothing you or I will ever face that is impossible for God to help us navigate our way through.
“How, Barb?” you ask. “I have literally tried everything I know to do.”
I get that. So had I. While I can’t lay claim to every broken ledge I’ve described above, I’ve been over enough truly brutal ones to understand intimately the rush and the fall; of continually living day-to-day in the burning flames of devastation and pain. To have my circumstances dictate my sense of worth. Only to have the Lord pull me from the fire and place me on firm ground. To take away the charred, broken pieces and begin to replace them with new, expertly carved gems of freedom and truth.
Gems like, “Tell those who mourn that the time of God’s favor has come, and the day of his wrath to their enemies … to give them a beautiful crown in exchange for ashes, to anoint them with gladness instead of sorrow, to wrap them in victory, joy and praise instead of depression and sadness. For God has planted them like strong and graceful oaks for his own glory,” (Isaiah 61:2-3, VOICE, LB).
And, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. ‘I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you,’” (Psalm 32:7-8).
And, “Our faith may fail, his never wanes—That’s who he is, he cannot change!” (2 Timothy 2:13, ISV).
And finally, “But God chose you to be his people. You are royal priests. You are a holy nation. You are God’s special treasure. You are all these things so that you can give him praise. God brought you out of darkness into his wonderful light,” (1 Peter 2:9).
Yes, I am special to God, sung over and treasured. I am royalty, set apart by my Creator, holy and blameless before him. His legacy for me is one of wonderful light. Peace, joy and confidence are my birthright. Jesus’ death on the cross secures my victory against the enemies in my mind working to destroy me. He will always be faithful to me, even when I feel faithless. He will help me change my thinking and guide me safely forward, away from the edge. He places me on a firm foundation, one from which I can never fall (Matthew 7:24-25).
An amazing, crazy thing happens when my focus shifts away from the floor of despair and toward God’s words of truth. Those very words begin to change my thoughts. My Creator begins to align my thinking and my perceptions around the Truth of his words. Not perfectly, but consistently.
The beauty of this incredible metamorphosis is that I don’t have to change myself; the word changes my thoughts for me. Isaiah 55:10-11 tells us, “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I sent it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
In other words, the very words of my Creator will rip out the lies and replace them with precious, life-giving truth. My only job? Put those gems of truth around me. Meditate on them day and night. Pray over them. Post them conspicuously all around me. Let them wash over me until they’ve done their work and become who I am.
One of the first scriptures I ever memorized has been a lifeline to truth throughout my life: “God’s blessings follow you and await you at every turn: when you don’t follow the advice of those who delight in wicked schemes, when you avoid sin’s highway, when judgment and sarcasm beckon you, but you refuse. For you, the Eternal’s Word is your happiness. It is your focus—from dusk to dawn. You are like a tree, planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry. Your fruit ripens in its time; your leaves never fade or curl in the summer sun. No matter what you do, you prosper,” (Psalm 1:1-3).
Can you see it? There are two paths, two distinct ways to go. One rushes straight ahead to the edge, leading to destruction. The other is the Eternal’s path, bringing healing and growth, no matter how harsh the season. It’s His very words of truth.
Today, you have the opportunity to step back from the edge and into the safety of God’s love. Immerse yourself in His truth and search for the gems of wisdom He has for you. Choose the path of life—the one that brings true freedom. Remember His promise: “Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32). Reach for that freedom today.
FOR FURTHER THOUGHT:
What path are you on today? Whether you're standing on solid ground or feel like everything’s shaky, the Lord has a plan for you—plans to prosper and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). No matter where you are, all you need to do is call on Him. When anger wells up, call on Jesus. When joy overflows, praise Jesus. And when hurt and pain cling to you like close companions, seek shelter under your Creator’s wing, finding true comfort in the only words that bring healing and life.
Never forget how much you matter to God. He gave His very best, Jesus, at the cross for you—not when you were at your best, but when you were at your worst (Romans 5:6). God's heart is to bring you peace and joy. That’s the path to run toward.
PRAYER:
Lord, I come to You as I am, with all my brokenness and struggles. I ask for Your truth to guide me, to heal the places where I’ve believed lies, and to help me walk the path You’ve laid out for me. Fill me with Your peace, and let me find rest in Your presence. Thank You for loving me even at my worst. Amen
ABOUT BARB LOWNSBURY
Barb is a speaker, author, and entrepreneur. She holds Bachelor's Degrees in International History and Education, as well as a Master’s Degree in Education. Barb has spoken at conferences and taught classes throughout the U.S. on topics including faith, relationships, leadership, and courage through trials. Her book, Using What’s Broken to Boldly Shine, is a powerful read on transformation through adversity. Her blog focuses on providing people with everyday encouragement and strength. Barb serves as the Executive Director for The Dented Fender Ministry and runs a successful real estate and development company. She and her husband currently reside in Dayton, Ohio.
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