Stooping down

"Wisdom is oftentimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar." (William Woodsworth) There are moments in time where we find ourselves unable to soar, feeling like we are in our darkest days, when it is time for us to 'stoop' because we just find it impossible to rise up until we have spent a little time prostate before God. It may be one of those moments for you today, and that is okay if it is, because God isn't put off by our lowest moments. The darkest days are oftentimes the times he shows us the greatest light and our lowest moments are the ones that help launch us into times when we will once again soar.

How can a young person live a clean life? By carefully reading the map of your Word. I’m single-minded in pursuit of you; don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted. I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart so I won’t sin myself bankrupt. Be blessed, God; train me in your ways of wise living. I’ll transfer to my lips all the counsel that comes from your mouth; I delight far more in what you tell me about living than in gathering a pile of riches. I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you, I attentively watch how you’ve done it. I relish everything you’ve told me of life, I won’t forget a word of it. (Psalm 119:9-16 MSG)

In the darkest moments, we find ourselves recognizing any place in our lives where we have failed to remain 'single-minded' in pursuit of the grace and goodness of God. We find where it is we falter a little in our faith - where our moments of doubt all culminate and perhaps where it is they actually began. In these moments of recognition, there is but one 'constant' - God's grace. His goodness extends into the lowest of places and meets with us there - not to condemn, but to lift up; not to point out failure, but to help us see the signs he has posted that show us the pathway into his presence once again.

God asks us to 'bank' his promises - not so much because we don't have them written down for us in scripture - but because when we need them the most we won't realize where to find them as much as if they are already safely in the vault of our hearts and minds. Our hearts and minds are to be filled with his promises - not to just 'take up space', but to help us know his goodness in any circumstance we are in. The Words of God 'mulled over' time and time again in the moments when we are able to 'soar high' are oftentimes those we will fall back upon when we are deep within the pit, stooped low and hungry for just a morsel of his truth.

You know, Jesus stooped low one day to write something in the dirt as men who claimed 'righteousness' stood in condemnation of a woman caught in the sin of adultery. He stooped down to draw the child close when arguments ensued as to who had the greatest importance. He wasn't afraid to show us where mercy is found - at his feet! Just sayin!