The Rope of Hope

BRUCE  LICHT

There is an old adage that says, “The hardest things in life are the things most worth fighting for." (1) This sentiment is appropriate when it comes to one’s journey in seeking God’s presence.

Unfortunately, we can’t order God online and have Him show up on our doorstep in an Amazon delivery. We can’t communicate with God instantaneously by sending Him a text message. And He is not going to just jump out of your birthday cake and shout, “Surprise!” In most cases, God is found by always holding on to hope, never losing faith, and exerting effort to seek Him out.

Imagine being in the middle of a barren, hot, blistering desert. (2)

There’s just dry sand as far as your eyes can see. You need water badly. You hike to a number of distant oases, but they are just mirages.

You’re getting weak and desperate. You call out to God, and suddenly, you see what appears to be a well in the distance. With your last ounce of strength, with one hand over the other, you exert effort and crawl in that direction. When you finally approach it, you see that there is an opening with a rope that extends into a deep, dark hole. As you pull the rope up, you are hoping it will not break, there is a bucket at the other end full of fresh water, and your life will be saved.

Now imagine being on a ship in the middle of a deep, dark, raging ocean. (3)

There’s just black open water as far as your eyes can see. The captain warns about an approaching storm and you tie a rope around your waist as a precautionary measure. The storm picks up, the ship begins to toss, and you are thrown overboard.

The relentless waves are pummeling you and pushing you further away from the ship until it is no longer in sight.

You’re getting weak and desperate. You call out to God, and suddenly, the rope around your waist becomes taught and starts tugging you along. With your last bit of strength, with one hand over the other, you exert effort and yank yourself towards the ship. As you pull, you are hoping the rope will not break, the vessel will come back into view, and your life will be saved.

Metaphorically speaking, discovering God is a bit like finding water in a dry desert or a rescue ship in a violent sea. God is always there, but His presence is not always easy to discern. We have to be active participants in the process. We may have to dig deep below the surface or swim great distances to discover His veiled holiness. But when we exert the effort, and never let go of His unseen cord, the treasure we receive can be more valuable and considerably more cherished. Ultimately, this journey isn’t just about finding God, but about proving the resiliency of your faith. In the end, it is possible that your life just may be saved.