Stumbling

Nothing damages our dignity like stumbling. Can you remember when you have stumbled? Nothing is more humiliating or embarrassing than spilling our dignity as we fall flat on our pride. The first thing we do is take a quick look around to see who might have noticed. We long to become invisible. Some of my stumbling experiences make me shudder just to call them to mind.

But, do you know something? Almost without exception the response of the onlookers is sympathy…identification with the embarrassment…mutual ache…a deep sense of inner support. In fact the immediate response is to help the stumbler back to his feet. I cannot remember a single occasion when anyone who stumbled was held down or stepped on by those nearby. I recall that there was instant concern for their hurt feelings and their physical welfare. I also recall that everyone who tripped got right back on his feet, shrugged off the humiliation, and forged ahead. There’s something to be learned, my friend, in all this business of stumbling.

In the penetrating letter of James, every verse is like a scalpel – cutting deep incisions in our conscience. Hidden within James 3:2 is something we often forget:

For we all stumbled in many ways.

What he’s saying? Nobody’s perfect…to stumble is normal…fact of life…an act that guarantees our humanness. He goes on to mention that we often stumble in what we say. When it comes to the tongue we blow it! He says (in 2:10) that stumbling brings guilt…even if it is in one small area. Isn’t that the truth?

Perhaps you have just stumbled as you read this today. You feel guilty, you feel like a failure. You wish like crazy you had never opened your mouth…or done what you did…or responded like that. You’re miserable, discouraged, and you like to hide, or better still…crawl of and die. Ridiculous!! Get out of the pool of self pity, brushed off the dirt with the promise of God’s forgiveness…and MOVE ON!!

Now I must add a word of realism. Instead of receiving the normal reaction of concern and support, you may find that some who saw you fall will want to hold you down or bad-mouth you because you slipped. Ignore them completely! They have forgotten that James 3:2 includes them. The only difference is that you didn’t get to see them stumble. But they have, believe me, they have.

What all this adds up to is not difficult to discover:

GOD WANTS TO USE YOU

STUMBLING AND ALL

BUT HE WON’T DO SO IF YOU REFUSE TO GET UP

Stumblers who give up are a dime a dozen. In fact, they’re useless.

Stumblers who get up are rare. In fact, they’re priceless.

(Adapted from Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life by Charles R Swindoll)