Out of Reach

When my son was little, his Grandma would bring him balloons for his birthday--one balloon for each year.  Invariably, the ribbons would be just a bit too short.  He would try and try to pull one of those shiny, colorful balloons down from the ceiling, but he couldn't quite reach the ribbon.  Eventually he would ask an adult for help.

image: Flickr user jekemp

I thought of that last night when I was thinking about something that Paul wrote:

... I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." ... [2 Cor 12:7-9, NIV]

I made the association because, when I'm in a valley, God seems far away.  Grace can seem out of reach.  I can stand on tiptoe, stretch as far as I can, even jump--and still not be able to grasp the ribbon.

But God, in His grace, has sent help:  sisters and brothers in Christ.  They show God's love through their words, their hugs, their smiles.  They remind me, when I'm stuck in a rut, that praise music helps me keep my focus on the Lord.  They point me back to the promises of God.

They pull down the ribbon so I can reach the balloon.

What helps you when God seems far away?