FaithInk

“Take a deep breath and listen to my voice.”

I said those words as calmly and confidently as I could, but as I said them I felt anything but confident or calm. Let me explain.

My family and I were in the Badlands of South Dakota. A captivating landscape where the earth literally crumbles beneath your feet. There are endless cliffs, crevices, and canyons to explore and every few feet you feel as though you have stepped onto a different planet. I would highly recommend making the trek out to Badlands National Park!

While we were there Ashley, Eli, and I decided to hike the famous Notch Trail. It is a hike with a slightly more than moderate difficulty level, but its fame comes from a section of the trail that is only passable via a wooden ladder.

When we got to the ladder we were excited, but also hot, sweaty, and a bit worn out. The temperature that day was around 95 degrees. If you know us Nelsons well then you know that we don’t really function at our prime in the heat. 75 is a bit too warm for me. So, as it was our turn to mount the ladder I was a bit flustered and just ready to get it over with, hoping there might be some shade at the top. (No luck there!)

I told Eli to go first, knowing that if the ladder got too tricky for him I would be there to help. As he started to climb the ladder he quickly began to have some doubts. I must admit, this was a very strange thing for me to witness. My son is normally very fearless and incredibly confident in most things he does, so to see him begin to tremble and be frozen in fear took me by surprise. 

He started to whine and mumble something about getting off. When I told him, “no, you’re fine just keep climbing,” he started to tremble. I then began to try to coax and encourage him but nothing I was saying seems to be getting through. In the midst of it all he began to descend the ladder and in the process stepped on my fingers. 

I was in a pickle. 

I was hot. My hand now was hurting. My 5 year old was on the brink of a melt down. Ashley was behind me on the ladder so I couldn’t go down. I was hot. There were other people now waiting  for their turn on the ladder. There was still another 6ish feet to get to the top. Oh, and did I mention I was melting because it was so hot?

It was at that moment that I said those words, “take a deep breath and listen to my voice.” I’m still not sure if I was talking more to myself or Eli, but it seemed to work for both of us. 

We paused, took a breath, and were silent for a second.

I then pulled my hand from under his foot and placed it on the back of his leg and gently spoke to my son. I reminded him of how brave and confident he was. I remind him that I was his dad and as his dad I knew what he was capable of and I knew he could do this. And I reminded him that if he slipped it was ok because I was right behind him.

I told him who he was, I told him who I was, and I told him I was right there with him.

Folks, when we are stuck on the ladder of life and frozen in fear of the unknown we need to take a deep breath and listen to the voice of our Father. He speaks to us through His Word and in it we are reminded of who we are, who He is, and that He is right there with us.

Who We Are
2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
1 Peter 2:9 –  But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
John 1:12 – But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to be called children of God.
Romans 8:14-15 – For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
Ephesians 5:8 – For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

Who He Is
John 14:6 – Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Revelation 22:13 – I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Psalm 118:14 – The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.
Isaiah 40:26 – Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.

He Is Right There With Us
Philippians 1:6 – And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 145:18 – The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
John 14:26 – But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
Hebrews 4:16 – Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

After Eli took a breath and heard me I really did see a real change to his demeanor. He didn’t start laughing or joking. He didn’t turn around and say, “gee dad, thanks so much! Everything is better now! You’re really swell ya know that?!”

But what he did do was to loudly exhale, look down at me with a look of newfound determination, and begin to climb. That is when I quickly snapped this photo and every time I think of it I am filled with “dad pride” as I think of his perseverance in the face of his fear and less than favorable circumstances.

The circumstances facing us believers today are less than favorable and I am sure we can make a long list of reasons to fret. But, when we pause and read the Bible we can find new vigor and perseverance. After all, God’s Word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) and is profitable for our teaching, correction, reproof, and training in righteousness. (2 Tim. 3:16-17)

So, brothers and sisters in Christ, please do not neglect reading your Bible. Please do not neglect taking that necessary quiet time to sit and communicate (reading Bible and praying) with our big and good Heavenly Father. When you feel stuck on the ladder, rest easy knowing He is there.