Hang On to the End of that Rope!

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you were desperately crying out to GOD, “Why me? Why has this terrible tragedy fallen on me?” Maybe, you are in just such a situation right now. All your hopes and dreams lie shattered all about. Everything you had ever accumulated was now gone. In desperation, you find yourself crying out: “Is it even worth it to continue on?”

Most people find themselves at the end of their rope at least a time or two as they make their way through life. You work hard; you struggle to acquire things; you grab and you grab only to find one day it’s all gone or it’s simply lost its value.

At the end of every rope in life, GOD will tie a knot of assurance and security, if we will but learn to grab it, hang on and trust Him. Consider Job for a moment. The Bible refers to him in this way: “He was a man of perfect integrity, who feared God and turned away from evil…. Job was the greatest man among all the people of the east” (Job 1:1,3 HCSB). Job had it all. GOD had blessed him in tremendous ways! As his life was moving along, he could never have imagined that the end of his rope was rapidly approaching.

The Scripture goes on to tell of the discourse between Satan and GOD concerning Job’s overwhelming faithfulness to GOD. Satan desired an opportunity to attack Job in order to show GOD his true faithfulness was very shallow. GOD gave Satan the opportunity to strike and destroy everything Job owned, including his family. The Bible says that even when he had nothing left, “Job did not sin or blame God for anything” (v. 22).

It is difficult for us to comprehend such destruction upon an individual and yet they remain completely faithful in their trust of GOD. At the end of his rope, Job had a decision to make, “Curse GOD and die!” (Job 2:9) as his wife recommended, or hold fast and remain faithful to GOD. The Scripture tells us: “Throughout all this Job did not sin” (v. 10). He continued holding on to his faith and trust in GOD, even in the midst of total destruction.

Maybe life is spiraling out of control for you? Everything seems to be headed south? You try and try to make things work out only to discover defeat around every corner? Discouragement has overwhelmed you? Your world is turning inside out and upside down?

To make matters even worse for Job, some of his friends came along and spent the next several days analyzing his situation for him. They commenced to offer words of advice to try to make his situation better—which served only to create an even more difficulty for Job. It seems when things can’t get any worse, you always have those people who have the answer for your problems! Their advice, though given with good intentions, tends to compound the difficulty of an already overwhelming situation.

In deep desperation, having lost everything, hanging on as best he could to the end of his life’s rope, Job never lost his faith in GOD. The Scripture tells us he responded to his friends: “I know my living Redeemer, and He will stand on the dust at last. Even after my skin has been destroyed, yet I will see God in my flesh. I will see Him myself; my eyes will look at Him, and not as a stranger. My heart longs within me” (Job 29:25-27).

Regardless of the depth of your situation, be assured your Redeemer, your Savior and your closest Friend will remain faithful and true to you. The trials and the times of intense testing will soon break out into unexpected wonder and amazement as GOD steps in and rewards your faithfulness. The Scripture goes on to tell us: “the Lord restored his prosperity and doubled his previous possessions” (Job 42:10).

Not only did GOD restore all the possessions Job had previously lost; GOD also turned around and increased his possessions in great abundance. The end of the rope became a brand new beginning for Job. The end of your rope can be the same for you. Tie a knot, hang on, remain faithful and get ready for what GOD has in store for you.

The kingdom of GOD awaits all who, by faith, trust in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior. Have you committed your life to Him today? If not, trust in Him today and hang on to Him through all the ups and downs of this life, always looking forward to the awesome world yet to come!

Scripture Reading: “I am at rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will never be shaken. How long will you threaten a man? Will all of you attack as if he were a leaning wall or a tottering stone fence? They only plan to bring him down from his high position. They take pleasure in lying; they bless with their mouths, but they curse inwardly. Rest in God alone, my soul, for my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I will not be shaken. My salvation and glory depend on God; my strong rock, my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is our refuge. Selah Men are only a vapor; exalted men, an illusion. On a balance scale, they go up; together they weigh less than a vapor. Place no trust in oppression, or false hope in robbery. If wealth increases, pay no attention to it. God has spoken once; I have heard this twice: strength belongs to God, and faithful love belongs to You, Lord. For You repay each according to his works” (Psalm 62 HCSB).

Personal Prayer: Father, help me to trust in You regardless of my situation. When my world seems to be collapsing around me, I pray You strengthen me as You walk through it with me. I pray it becomes a moment in time whereby I become stronger in my faith and more intimate in my relationship with You. I thank You for the dark moments that I must trod through because I know there is something more You are teaching me in order that I may become everything You have designed me to be. When I step into the light and the situation’s work has been done, I will stand even taller in You, O LORD!…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!