“If you are right with God, He strengthens you for the journey; the Eternal will be pleased with your life. And even though you trip up, you will not fall on your face because He holds you by the hand.”
As we reflect again on the Psalms, we come to this gentle reassurance: walking with God doesn’t guarantee an easy path—but it does promise steady companionship. God equips us for the road ahead, gives us strength when we feel weary, and holds us fast when we stumble. And stumble we will—life has its rough patches, unexpected turns, and moments of weakness. But we don’t fall flat, because God has us by the hand.
There’s comfort here for anyone feeling worn out or off-course: our missteps don’t define us. They’re not the end of the story. God’s grip is stronger than our slip.
Sometimes, a bit of humour helps drive the point home. There’s a story about a Chinese doctor who couldn’t find work in the U.S., so he opened a clinic with a sign that said:
“Treatment: $20. If not cured, get $100 back.”
An American lawyer saw an opportunity. He went in and said, “I’ve lost my sense of taste.”
The doctor told the nurse to put three drops from Box 22 into the man’s mouth.
“Ugh! That’s kerosene!” the lawyer spluttered.
“Great news,” said the doctor. “Your taste is back. That’ll be $20.”
It's a silly tale, but it reminds us: sometimes we look for answers in one direction, and God surprises us from another. We may not get what we expected, but we get exactly what we need.
And on a more serious note, many of us know what it’s like to feel we’ve failed—whether in our plans, our faith, or our relationships. But as someone once said, “Every setback is a setup for a comeback.” That’s more than a slogan—it reflects deep biblical truth. Even when we fall, we fall into grace. In God’s hands, failure becomes formation. Missteps become milestones.
Psalm 37 doesn’t promise that we won’t trip. It promises that God won’t let us fall beyond recovery. He’s shaping us—through strength and weakness, success and stumble—into people who rely on Him more deeply, praise Him more freely, and follow Him more faithfully.
And as Isaiah reminds us:
“O Lord, I will honour and praise your name, for you are my God. You do such wonderful things! You planned them long ago, and now you have accomplished them, just as you said!” (Isaiah 25:1, NLT)
Prayer
Lord, thank You that I don’t walk alone. When I trip, You steady me. When I grow tired, You strengthen me. And when I feel lost, You remain close. Help me to trust You with every step—whether it’s sure-footed or faltering. Give me grace in my setbacks, and joy in knowing that Your hand holds mine, always. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
