Have you ever wondered how to trust in Jesus when everything is falling apart? Sometimes we cling to Him when the going gets tough, and sometimes we wonder how things got so far out of control. That’s where this week found me. I’ve been trying to memorize Psalm 62:2 for the past couple of days, and I think Satan took it as a challenge. It says, “{God} alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be greatly shaken” (ESV).

Let me back up a little bit for you though.

Last week I attended a women’s conference that stirred something deep within me. A longing to know Jesus more. Not to just live for Him, but to walk with Him. So, when I came home, I stumbled across Psalm 62:2 in my morning quiet time and clung to it. Everything was going great… until today.

The day started off pretty normal. I spent some time with Jesus, got my kids ready for school, came home and ate breakfast. I even postponed going straight to my desk in favor of some extended quiet time. And then I buckled down and got to work, and Satan stepped in.

Things quickly spiraled out of control. Have you ever been so upset you were physically shaking? That’s where I was. It seemed like everything I touched was falling to pieces (literally). In hindsight, it could have been worse, but in the moment, I was done.

I think I may have actually looked at my Bible with scorn as I wondered how the gospel could fix this. Thankfully, God took up that challenge. After a few tears, I picked up my Bible and started to read. I lost myself in one of the stories from the Old Testament. It didn’t necessarily speak to the moment at hand, but took my eyes off my problems and put them back on Jesus.

And that’s what I needed.

A little while later I looked at Psalm 62:2 and realized that I had most definitely been greatly shaken. And I felt like a failure. In my moment of distress, I didn’t look to Jesus. I didn’t cling to the cross. I let Satan win.

But God…

We all need a good “but God” now and again don’t we? Well, I felt like a failure, but God whispered in my heart with words I will never forget. “You didn’t fail, you slipped and fell. Now let Me help you up so we can try again.” If’ you’ve ever been there take a moment to let those words sink in.

You are not a failure.

I love God’s foresight. That morning in my extended quiet time, I had read a devotional by Angela Nazworth. She wrote about when she was a teenager and used to go to the skating rink… even though she didn’t really know how to skate. She clung to the carpet wall, afraid to fall. And that fear held her hostage. It kept her from embracing all that the skating rink had to offer.

She wrote about a girl with big hair who skated with ease, but still fell down once and again. The difference was that when the big hair girl fell down, she got back up. She didn’t let it keep her down. She didn’t call it quits. She just stood back up, and started going again.

And that’s where God found me today. I had fallen, and I needed to get back up. Jesus had His hand stretched out, I just needed to grab hold. So wherever today finds you, I pray that you always remember to let Jesus help you back up.

P.S. Anxiety is something I have struggled with for years. If you struggle with it too, you may find the resources listed on this page helpful.

*Originally posted April 6th, 2017 on Candidly Christian