Stumbling through the Lens of Grace

"Stumbling seven times

BUT . . .

recovering eight."

-- Japanese Proverb

Stumble.
Stumbled.
Stumbling.

"To stumble" is a verb that means "to trip or momentarily lose one's balance or almost fall," according to my dictionary.

Who does not stumble?
Who has never stumbled?
Whom has stumbling left unscathed?

I know I am a stumbler.

I lose my footing when the ground shakes and rumbles under me.
I stagger in my heart when situations and circumstances feel like earthquakes.
I trip when words I never intended others to hear come rushing through my lips.
I proceed falteringly when any and every time my carefully planned agenda runs amok.

I stumble.

I make mistakes.

I win one day and lose the next.

I fail to plumb the depths of genuine truth.

I do not always confess the Lordship of Christ in my actions.

Indeed, I am a stumbler.

Yet, grace and redemption delight in turning stumblers into pillars and trees -- firmly grounded, stumbling never again. This delightful, stable, and life-altering transformation occurs in the form of a transaction called surrender.

Wanting me to experience the blessed truth of His presence, Christ pleads with me to tune out the enticing lies of the "do it my way" mindset. More than a jaded nod to this wake-up call, He urges me to respond with more gravitas -- to descend to ground zero and surrender my independence to Him in humility and with trust.

Ground zero is the place where I am invited to admit my infidelity toward my heavenly Husbandman. It is the location where I deposit on God's altar my insolent chasing after fleshly enticements and worldly ways--selfish patterns that have wreaked havoc in my relationship with God and in my relationships with others.

Therein Christ's loving, gentle, gracious voice invites me to surrender . . .

. . . my wallowings, 

                        

                          wants, 

                               warts, 

                                   welts, 

                                      whims, 

                                          whinings, 

                                                    whys, 

                                                         wills, 

                                                            winters, 

                                                                    woes, 

                                                                        worries . . .in order to accept His full provision:

-  every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).
-  everything needed for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3).
-  the peace that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
-  grounding and fruitfulness in season (Psalm 1:2).
-  being rooted and built up in Christ, growing in the faith, and overflowing in thankfulness (Colossians 2:6-7).

Oh, glory!

My stumbling does not cause the Father to move away from me. In fact, He approaches me, woos me, listens to me, approves of me, holds me, speaks to me, receives me because . . . 

Christ was born

Christ lived a sinless life

Christ died on the cross for me

Christ rose victoriously from the grave

Christ is preparing a place for me in glory

Indeed, I can only kiss stumbling goodbye and remain standing if, and only if, Christ alone is my hope, my life, my all.

"His oath, His covenant, His blood

Support me in the whelming flood;

When all around my soul gives way,

He then is all my hope and stay.

On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand,

All other ground is sinking sand."

Lord Jesus, thank You for providing salvation when I was lost, understanding and wisdom when I am confused, grounding when I stumble, renewal when I am depleted, wholeness when I am broken, and fullness of joy when I am discontented. Amen!