The Crutch of God

Whether you’ve badly sprained an ankle, broken a bone, or simply just needed help getting up, chances are… you’ve used crutches. The purpose of crutches is to support one’s weight when walking. They are meant to give one support and keep them balanced. But think about it… what happens when we make other people our crutches?

Family. Friends. Significant others and spouses. Even your colleagues and coworkers. They are all people we rely on every day in different ways. Each kind of relationship holds a different reliability. We rely on our families to support and be there for us when we need them. We rely on our friends to bring us happiness and fun and to be trustworthy and understanding. We rely on our significant others and spouses to be faithful and provide us with love, happiness, and care. We even rely on colleagues to help us get the job done. And here is the shocking truth… in most cases, relying so much on people is unintentional! A totally unconscious act! The truth is, the relationships you form with people carry their own feelings, and in doing so, carry their own expectations. If someone makes you feel loved, appreciated, and happy, it’s only natural for you to look to them for those feelings time and time again. But here’s the not-so-shocking truth… people can fail.

There is no perfect human being. The sad, but undeniable fact is… we are all susceptible to fail at some point in our lives. And when people fail you, you get let down. If we’re being real… sometimes you fall down and fall hard. The family member you looked to for support may have cut you off. The friend you entrusted secrets to may have betrayed you and slandered your name. That significant other or spouse may have committed unfaithful acts or said hurtful things. Your coworker may have slacked off and left the workload on you or took credit for all your hard work. Whatever the situation may be, getting let down can hurt badly. When our human crutches fall from beneath us, we’re in for a rough landing. You feel lost, helpless, heartbroken, betrayed, alone, upset, depressed… the list can really go on.

Getting back up may not always be as easy as standing up and brushing yourself off. We need help. When you take a hard fall or blow, you get bruised. You’re in pain and you may not know who to trust to pick you back up, because what if they let you fall too/again, right? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;” (Proverbs 3:5 NKJV). When trusting man becomes hard, put your trust in God. Allow Him to pick you up, brush you off, and tend to your wounds. And if we’re being real once more… yes, it can be hard to trust God too. Sometimes it’s even harder. But the beauty of it all is that even if you find yourself unable to physically ask God for help, the unspoken cries of your heart call to Him too. All He needs is a way in and He will work on your behalf. Try leaning on God and have Him hold you up even when everything else around you causes you to fall down.

No matter how many times you get knocked down, keep getting back up. God sees your resolve. He sees your determination. And when you do everything you can do, that’s when God will step in and do what you can’t do.

Pastor Joel Olsteen