Stumbles and Falls

The Lord upholds all who fall” – Psalm 145:16

This verse is a cornerstone of faith, a promise as steadfast as the mountains. It speaks to the heart of the human experience, where stumbles and setbacks are as inevitable as the sunrise.

Sports, a microcosm of life, offers a stark yet familiar tableau. The athlete, in pursuit of victory, faces countless opportunities to fall. A misstep, a mistimed jump, a bone-jarring tackle – these are the trials that forge champions. Coaches, with their wisdom and experience, instill the invaluable lesson: always get up running. This resilience, cultivated on the field, is a vital tool for navigating life’s challenges.

However, life’s falls can be far more profound. Loss of employment, fractured relationships, personal failures – these can shatter confidence and leave us feeling utterly defeated. It’s in these moments of deepest despair that the psalmist’s words offer a lifeline. The Lord, the eternal coach, is always there, ready to extend a hand and lift us from the depths.

The phrase “falling from grace” often implies a permanent state of spiritual decline. Yet, the psalmist assures us that while we may stumble and fall, God’s grace is an unwavering anchor. It’s not a capricious gift, bestowed conditionally, but an unconditional love that endures through our darkest hours.

Just as a coach believes in their athlete’s ability to recover, God believes in our capacity for redemption. His hand is always outstretched, waiting to help us rise. With faith as our guide, we can transform our falls into stepping stones, learning from our mistakes and emerging stronger. In the end, it’s not about avoiding falls, but about how we respond to them. And with God as our steadfast support, we can face any challenge with courage and hope.

About the author

Webb Hubbell is the former Associate Attorney General of The United States. His novels, When Men Betray, Ginger Snaps, A Game of Inches, The Eighteenth Green, and The East End are published by Beaufort Books and are available online or at your local bookstore. When Men Betray won one of the IndieFab awards for best novel in 2014. Ginger Snaps and The Eighteenth Green won the IPPY Awards Gold Medal for best suspense/thriller. His latest, “Light of Day” will be on the bookstands soon.

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