Stuck in life's elevator?

I think they would have been fine for a little while longer, but the six people stuck on our elevator last Friday were grateful we didn’t delay in responding to their need. And with a big thanks to the Petersburg Fire Department for answering the call and arriving so quickly, everyone is safe and sound, and now has an exciting story to tell.

It’s fixed now, and I’ve ridden on it personally, so if you come to church and need to use the elevator, you can travel up and down with absolute confidence. The same kind of confidence that compels you to go buy another lottery ticket because you’re sure this will be the big one. The same kind of confidence that you have in Congress to enact laws that will help our spiraling economy and offer workable solutions to curb violent crime.

In other words, we’re thinking about stocking the elevator with non-perishable food items, bottled water and an emergency kit containing an LED flashlight, AM/FM radio, a fuzzy blanket, waterproof matches, sanitation kit, ponchos, yellow rope and a blue tarp. You never know. Not that we’re expecting anything to happen, mind you. And if anything does happen, don’t panic. We know who to call.

Who do you call when you get stuck in life’s elevator? What do you do when you feel trapped, helpless and don’t know how long this season of sorrow might last? Where do you look for help when your husband says he doesn’t love you anymore, when you get that dreaded call from the doctor, or when the company says they’re downsizing?

Life is filled with hardships and trouble. No one is exempt. Whether it’s the stuff you can’t do anything about or the pains we bring upon ourselves due to poor choices, we all go through tough times. My closet’s as full of junk as yours is. The one who comes to your rescue makes the difference between staying stuck or being freed.

The people on that elevator could have pried and pulled and pushed and punched that elevator door all day long and nothing would have happened other than they’d have exhausted and bruised themselves and grown frustrated and fearful. Sometimes you just can’t solve your problems on your own. You need to call someone that knows how to get you out.

I am convinced that our omnipotent, omniscient, ever-present God is always on-call and able to deliver us. He knows how to get us out of whatever turmoil we’re in. I’ve been rescued too many times to doubt Him now. He may not always change our circumstances immediately, but He can help us see them in light of His mercy and grace and wisdom. He may not always reveal His purposes perfectly to us, but He has proven time and time again that He is worthy of our unwavering trust.

Why don’t we call on Him more often? Why do we exhaust and bruise ourselves trying to solve our own problems when God is standing by waiting to help? Why is it that praying for His help is often a last resort rather than our first instinct?

I think that if we only knew how much He truly loves us we would never delay in crying out to Him for help. If only we realized how utterly dependent we really are upon Him for every breath we breathe, for every meal we eat, for every step we take and for every good thing we need and enjoy in life, we would run to Him and never leave.

Maybe you’ll be fine for a little while longer, but you don’t want to stay stuck in life’s hurts forever. Whatever you’re going through today, let me urge you to call upon the One who is ready, willing and able to answer your call and come quickly to your rescue. Call upon the Lord. Come to Him through faith in the name of Jesus. You can take absolute confidence in Him, more so than a ride on the church elevator.