Slow Walkin’
Sugarbell doesn’t so much walk as saunter. Or stroll. And by “stroll,” I mean I push her in a stroller.
She’s a dog that has aged into quite a lady of leisure, lounging around the house for most hours of the day. With all this inactivity, she has become predictably overweight. Because I want her to have a healthier, more active, and happier life, I am on a mission to get this dog in shape.
Getting her into a new exercise regimen is much easier than getting myself into one. I just stroller her down the street, then make her walk back home. And by walk, I mean saunter. My two younger dogs, straining against their leashes, do not understand why I tolerate this rate of speed.
Sugarbell’s gait is less trot and more step-step-sniff. She spends most of her time tracking random cats that prowl up from the drains along the sidewalk. Even meandering is good for her mobility, so a slow walk it is.
A faulty back knee joint sometimes causes her to collapse into a sitting position or lose her balance and pudgily roll to the side. Sometimes, she can right herself, but usually, I have to lift her to her feet and steady her. Picking her up and carrying her or putting her back in the stroll would be the easy solution, but she’ll only gain strength and flexibility if she exercises. So I patiently walk beside her, ready to assist her when she fails.
Our faith is like that. God doesn’t abandon us. He also doesn’t remove every hard thing from our lives. But he does promise to always walk beside us, hanging close to lift us when we don’t have the strength to do it ourselves.
When life is difficult, feeling betrayed by God is tempting. I use the word “tempting” because there’s a definite temptation to believe God abandons us when we go through trials. It’s a thought that the enemy of your soul, Satan, would love for you to entertain.
Why do we have the mistaken belief that being a child of God is equal to having a pain-free life? That is wholly unbiblical. We are not promised ease. Jesus himself said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NLT
James, who was Jesus’ earthly brother and eventual church leader, was killed for his belief in Jesus as the risen Christ and his leadership in the church. These are his words: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:2-4 God is far less interested in our comfort than in our growth.
When you feel like you’re on a tediously slow walk of difficulties, remember that Christ is with you. He’s patiently accompanying you, giving you space to build strength and resilience, but never abandoning you, lifting you when you fall.
“So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:6 NLT