The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; ²⁴though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. —Psalm 37:23-24
This is such an encouraging and comforting passage as we journey through life walking with the Lord. Indeed, the whole psalm is a wonderful guide for our lives. We can trust the Lord who upholds the righteous (37:17b).
I’ve come to understand these verses more since I fell while on a walk. I was taking for granted the simple steps I had walked many times before when my shoe caught the edge of the pavement and down I went. My hand automatically went out to protect my head from injury, but I broke a bone in my hand. I see how God protected me in this. He both kept me from a more severe injury and set me on a journey of dependence on Him and others since I couldn’t do much without the use of my dominant hand. This season deepened my relationship with Him and my appreciation for the body of Christ (including my family). True to His Word, one small stumble changed my plans. "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand" (Proverbs 19:21).
I have a friend who had a severe fall from his bike and ended up a quadriplegic. Some may think that the Lord was not with him because he was not healed or that the Lord didn’t care because He could have prevented the injury. But I have seen grace, peace, love, and contentment radiate from his life as he interacts with caregivers and prays with those who visit him. His joy in life abounds and he appreciates all that God has done and is doing in and through him. His response reminds me of Proverbs 16:9, "The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps” (Proverbs 16:9).
One way to prevent our steps from slipping (or to help us when we fall) is to hide God’s Word in our hearts (Psalm 37:31). He is our salvation and stronghold in troubled times (37:39). He delivers us when we take refuge in Him (37:40). Reminding ourselves daily of the truths we find in God’s Word will strengthen us for the inevitable bumps we face along the way. We have much to be grateful for as our eternal God’s everlasting arms support us (Deuteronomy 33:27).
When we do slip, He can lift us up and make our steps secure (Psalm 40:1-2). If the fall came because of sin in our lives, He offers us forgiveness and restoration when we confess that sin. We can then walk securely in the light of His fellowship and be cleansed of our sin because of the blood of Jesus (1 John 1:7-10).
Falls are a recurring part of our physical life–from childhood when we try to take our first steps through old age as our bodies weaken. Falls in our spiritual life will come too, but God’s Word can help us navigate those times well as we grow stronger in our dependence on Him. And that growing dependence on Him results in increasing trust and praise of our wonderful God so that we can say with Isaiah, “O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure” (Isaiah 25:1).
For Reflection
Do you know someone who has walked faithfully with the Lord ? Talk with them and learn how they have done that.
What Scriptures can you memorize to help you navigate difficulties ahead?
Think about someone in your life whom you could encourage by sharing Bible verses and a story from your journey with the Lord (and do so).
Lori Myers is a customer care specialist at Truth78 and loves serving in her local church. She has been using the Fighter Verses memory program since 2004, growing deeper in God's Word through daily practice. She is blessed to have two amazing daughters, two wonderful sons-in-law, and five adorable grandchildren.