Today I’m revisiting a story that brought this verse to life for me along with some new insights I received from some friends.
A few years ago, this verse played out in real life. I was washing dishes and turned to clean the stovetop, but failed to close the dishwasher door before turning. Suddenly, I lost my balance and thought, “I’m falling.” I instinctively reached the closest thing to steady me, but unfortunately, my hand grabbed the oven door which gave way as I fell to the floor.
I was sandwiched between the oven door and the dishwasher door facing the corner of my refrigerator. I was stuck, couldn’t move and wondered how I would get out of the situation. Eventually, I managed to close the oven door, move on my backside to the living room and stand up. I wasn’t hurt, but I learned that an oven door isn’t the best thing to grab when falling. The dishwasher door cushioned my fall but the oven door made things worse.
While God can steady me when I physically slip, I think David refers to slipping spiritually in this verse.
Temptation thwarted David throughout his life, and he did not always grab hold of God’s outstretched hand to prevent his fall. He returned to the Lord every time, and I think this verse reflects his awareness of God’s constant presence in his life.
The experience reminded me that when I face temptation or trials, sometimes my hands reach something steady, and I do not fall. Other times what I hold on to yields to my desire and the force of my will and I tumble into old patterns. David reminds me that the Lord’s hand is outstretched to steady me whenever I feel my foot slip, but I must grab hold of His hand to steady me in times of temptation or doubt rather than an old habit or thought that will allow me to fall.
However, even if I yield to temptation, God’s hand is still outstretched to pull me up. He sometimes blocks the opportunity to grab onto old habits in ways I don’t see while I’m starting to fall.
Ultimately, I know that when I think, “my foot slips,” God’s steadfast love will hold me up. I just have to remember to grab His hand or the hands of my community and not the oven door.
