HANGING ON

By Pastor Bob DeKlavon
 

James Dobson wrote about preparing for adolescence.

Think about it—can anything really prepare a parent for adolescence?

            We have two daughters who are 7 months apart [story for another blog].

Needless to say, we were gearing up for a double dose of what adolescence would bring.

Dobson uses the analogy of white-water rafting.

The goal of this kind of rafting is having fun while trying to make sure everyone is in the raft at the end.

            There will be times that are smoother than others and times when you barely talk to each other.

                                    The goal is:  have fun while hanging on.

So it was that we got to go white-water rafting with our two teenage daughters.

            Having gotten all the proper equipment—helmets, life vests, etc.

            Having signed all the proper forms—no liability, etc.

            We heard what some have called ‘the death speech.’

This is where someone tells about all the things that can go wrong with the adventure. 

            At the end of ‘scaring us to death’ the guide said:  ‘have fun and hang on.’

                        So we did—and we lived to tell about it.

There WERE times of just enjoying the scenery and being able to chat together.

There WERE times when we were just trying our best not to be knocked overboard.

            Through it all—we found ourselves—‘hanging on’ no matter what.

Lord willing, on April 26, we will be looking at what David wrote in Psalm 13.

            4 times in this psalm—David asks the LORD: 

                                    ‘HOW LONG?”

“Will You forget me forever?”

                        “Will You hide Your face from me?”

            “Shall I take counsel in my soul—having sorrow in my heart all the day?”

                        “Will my enemy be exalted over me?”

David pleads with God:  

“Consider and answer and enlighten my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep of death.”

You just get the sense that David is ‘hanging on.’

As with us—he is facing the unknown and unknowable.

As with us—he is trying to see God’s presence when things seem so cloudy.

At the end, though, David writes in v. 5:  “but I have trusted in Your lovingkindness.”

            He adds that:  “he will rejoice in God’s salvation and he will sing to the LORD.’

I have a note in my Bible that says:  “circumstances haven’t changed—but David has.

Sometimes our life seems smoother than others.

Sometimes, like now, there is the underlying tension of what will happen next.

But…no matter what…because we know the LORD…let us hang on and have fun.

He knows what He is doing and plans to do even if we don’t—so ‘hang on’ to His lovingkindness.