Skiing on Ice

Another fun day of skiing...except I didn't feel great (might be on verge of an illness....) and the snow was icy under a thin layer of fluff. I hate skiing on ice. I just went really slowly and stayed off the icier slope. What made it harder was there would suddenly be piles of fluffy snow. Every time I'd hit those piles, I'd nearly topple. It was not easy skiing. Lots of people were wiping out. Skiing on ice has shocking parallels to life at times.

Many of us are "skiing on ice" right now. Life seems to be careening out of control, and we are hurtling along, falling far too often, and sometimes hurting ourselves very badly. How does one regain control when the forces of nature itself seem to be conspiring against us?

Happily, there is an answer. On the drive to skiing,  I listened to 3 hours of Christian sermons on the radio. It is hard to feel anything but hope when your heart and ears are filled with God. It was a perfect day to be "filled to overflowing" with God...because I needed all the help I could get on the ice... as well as the slippery slopes of life. I don't remember all the messages, but one theme was to dwell on God's promises. Here are a few:

The Lord’s strength 

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” —Isaiah 41:10  

The Father’s presence

“The Lord is the one who goes ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” —Deuteronomy 31:8

God’s comfort

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” —2 Corinthians 1:3-4

A way of escape

“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” —1 Corinthians 10:13

Wisdom

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”—James 1:5

Ice happens. Sometimes God sends ice. If I want to ski, I have to learn to ski on ice.