Last night I watched a video of a baby monkey that had somehow managed to climb out on a power line. He learned right away that a power line is not made of the same material as a tree limb. The young monkey tried to keep his balance but was having great difficulty maintaining his grip on the very narrow line. Now of course I do not understand the language of monkeys but if I could I no doubt would have heard the desperate cries of fear as this little fella hung on for dear life. I also would have recognized the mothers frustration and heard her as she cried out to her young monkey child to hold on and that she would find a way to get him down. The mother knew that the young monkey was not yet coordinated enough to do some of the same maneuvers that she was. She also knew that when you’re afraid you might make hasty decisions that may make your situation worse. I watched the mother as she paced back and forth wondering just how she could get her child without both of them falling to their death. Time was running out for our little friend and it was only a matter of time before he lost his grip. But love always finds a way. That mother had made up her mind and she made a leap that any olympic long jumper would have been proud to call their own. She caught her baby in her arms and landed with the grace of a ballet dancer on a rooftop that was nearby. It was phenomenal to watch.
Sometimes l feel like that young monkey who had this great idea to try something new without actually taking the time to think it through. Then I find myself in a position that I cannot get out of and risk the loss that comes through making poor decisions.
The mother monkey did not yell at the child she loved when he was struggling to hold on. That was not the time for discipline this was the time for deliverance. You may be in a tight spot right now and you may be asking yourself why in the world did I ever make this decision and you’re truly regretting it. You may not see any way out of your predicament. . However let me tell you that you have a father in heaven that’s already on the way and He is more than able to keep you from falling. He hears your cries for help. Just remember when he comes to your assistance you will have to let go of the wire you’re holding on to and let Him carry you to a place of safety.
Now that little monkey learned a lesson he will never forget. Rest assured power lines will not be on his list of play areas ever again. However he also learned another lesson that he will never forget and that is his mother was willing to place her life on the line to save him.
In a like manner let me remind you that God has already shown us that He is willing to die for us. There is no spot that you can find yourself in that he will find a way to get you out.
I recently was called out for a suicide in the city where I live. As a police chaplain I get these calls more often than I would like. As I looked on the body of this young gentleman and learned his story I was reminded what happens to people when they lose hope. When they feel there is no way to get out of their situation and they surrender to their circumstances and give up. That little monkey could have done that. He could have just let go of the power line he was hanging from and surrendered to what he thought was his fate. But his mother kept reminding him to hang on and that she was on the way. That little monkey had no way of knowing how she would do it. However he knew if it was possible she would find a way and it was his responsibility to keep holding on till she came.
So the moral of the story is this. There is no place or problem you can find yourself in that God cannot deliver you from it. You need just to call out His name and let Him take you in His arms and carry you to a place where you can start again.