In 2009, I had the opportunity to visit Beijing, China. While in Beijing, one of my colleagues arranged for us to visit the Great Wall of China. When we arrived, I was amazed at the length of the wall. It kept going and going as far as the eye could see. Our tour guide said the Great Wall of China spanned over 4,000 miles. I was also amazed at how steep parts of the Wall are. Sections of the Wall are so steep you feel like you’re literally walking up a wall. The bus dropped us off and was going to pick us up a few miles from where we started. At least that’s what I thought.
So, we started walking
After going up and down a few of the steep sections of the wall, I asked our tour guide, “How far is it to the end?”. He said, “The entire hike is about 22 miles”. I couldn’t believe my ears. I couldn’t believe that my colleague signed me up to do a 22-mile hike on the Great Wall of China. Most of the people in our group were in good physical condition and could complete the hike, but not me. There was no way I could do it.
There was no way I could to make it to the end
I asked our tour guide if I could go back and they could pick me up when they were done, but he said I couldn’t go back. He said there was no way the bus could come back to pick me up. I asked him if there was a short cut through the village below and he said there was, but I might get lost and they would have no way to find me.
And so, I keep walking forward
Because I couldn’t turn back
I couldn’t keep up with my group and eventually lost sight of them. At one point, I was so mentally and physically exhausted that I stopped and started to cry. I didn’t know how I was going to make it to the end. I remember thinking they were going to need a helicopter to get me out of there. I couldn’t go any further. I was about to give up when I was approached by two villagers who offered to HELP me. There was no talking. No exchange of words. They took my hands and walked with me.
And I eventually made it to the end
When I finished the 22-mile hike and was on the bus headed back to our hotel, I remember the range of feelings I experienced throughout the day. Feelings of pain, sadness, hopelessness, fear, embarrassment, exhaustion, gratefulness, and eventually excitement when I made it to the end.
The truth is… I wouldn’t have made to the end of without their HELP
And I wouldn’t have made it this far in life without God’s HELP
Just like my hike on the Great Wall of China, I’ve been through some really challenging times. Times when I’ve wanted to give up and quit. Times when all I could do was stop and cry. There have even been times when I’ve wanted to go back or take a short cut because going forward seemed impossible.
But, just when I’m about to give up
When I’ve reached the end of my own abilities
MY HELP always comes
God doesn’t come when I want him to
He doesn’t even come when I think He should
But, He always shows up
Right on time
Dear Lord,
Thank you for always coming to my rescue. Thank you for being my refuge, my strength, and an ever-present HELP in the time of trouble.
karris
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (Psalm 46-1, New International Version)
