HELD BY HIS HANDS - - -by Max Lucado

You and I are on a great climb. The wall is high, and the stakes are higher.

You took your first step the day you confessed Christ as the Son of God.

He gave you his harness—the Holy Spirit. In your hands he placed a rope—his Word.Your first steps were confident and strong, but with the journey came weariness, and with the height came fear.

You lost your footing. You lost your focus. You lost your grip, and you fell.

For a moment,which seemed like forever, you tumbled wildly.

Out of control. Out of self-control. Disoriented. Dislodged. Falling.

But then the rope tightened, and the tumble ceased.

You hung in the harness and found it to be strong. You grasped the rope and found it to be true. You looked at your guide and found Jesus securing your soul. With a sheepish confession, you smiled at him and he smiled at you, and the journey resumed.

Now you are wiser. You have learned to go slowly. You are careful.You are cautious, but you are also confident. You trust the rope.

You rely on the harness. And though you can’t see your guide, you know him. You know he is strong.

You know he is able to keep you from falling. And you know you are only a few more steps from the top. So whatever you do, don’t quit.

Though your falls are great, his strength is greater.

You will make it. You will see the summit. You will stand at the top. And when you get there, the first thing you’ll do is join with all the others who have made the climb and sing this verse:

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! (Jude 24 NIV).

P.S This makes rock climbing really meaningful.