When You Fall Flat
Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 12:22PM 
“For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again, but the wicked stumble in time of calamity. But do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles…” (Proverbs 24:16-17).
The Christian life is not always “smooth as silk.” That’s a tough thought, since we live through various victories … and failures in life. But when we fall or wander, Jesus stirs us to get up and get back on track again.
Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u-yJk7jzY3Y
The setting is the 2008 Big 10 Indoor Track Championships, and the event is the women’s 600 meter run. In the tape, a runner, Heather Dorniden from Minnesota, trips and falls with one lap left in her race. Watch it all the way to the end to see her remarkable finish!
There are some parallels between Heather’s experience, and living for Christ.
First, it would be great if we were able to live perfect lives after accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Fact is, we need His forgiveness and saving grace every day. So its not a question “if” I will stumble so much as “when” I stumble. You, too. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
Second, when you stumble, the race isn’t over. So when we “fall,” make a mistake, or error in judgment, get up again and head toward the goal. The Bible word for this is repentance. When we have stumbled, fallen, or wandered, we cannot remain “down.” We can’t give up. Nor can we justify or defend our plight of laying down. We have to get up. Decide to move on.
Third, when we stumble and fall, what we need are teammates who will encourage us, believe in us, cheer us to get up and get going again. That’s the role of God’s church. God intends the fellowship of the church to be a gathering where “iron sharpens iron,” where we love and believe in one another, even when we’re down. As Proverbs 24:17 says, “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles…” Instead, be the wind in their sails. Be an encourager!
Over the course of my 47 years of my Christian ministry, I’ve seen couples recover from financial disasters, a spouse wandering in adultery, and people cope with all manner of health crises, including the death of a child. Life can be brutal at times. By the grace of God, we must arise and press on toward our goal.
Today’s question is: Do you know anyone in your world who needs a boost today? A word of encouragement to “get up and get going” again in their walk with the Lord?