When Life Is Hanging By A Thread

When life is hanging by a thread (The Wilderness of Failure ) It is easy to put Biblical characters (or certain high-profile believers) on pedestals as we consider their great exploits and compare them with our own. But, as James reminds us concerning Elijah, they are people ‘just like us' (Jas. 5:17) - and the Bible is so honest about showing us their faults and foibles. Like many of us, David passed through many bleak and barren wildernesses, and was often acutely aware of His failings as the choices and decisions he had made over the course of the years were illumined by the stark remorseless desert light, itself a picture of God’s eternal searchlight: His sharp and active word penetrating to the dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, judging the thoughts and attitudes of our heart. Truly, ‘Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.’ (Heb. 4:12-13) How crippling feelings of failure can be – but how very important that we do not permit them to overwhelm us with empty regret, . Rather, may we become deeply sorrowful in such ways as God intended us to be – for ‘godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, whereas worldly sorrow brings only death.’ (2 Cor. 7:9-11) Even as the pressures piled on, to the point where David's life appeared on more than one occasion to be hanging by a mere thread, he knew the sustaining power of Almighty God as his precious refuge, strength and deliverer. This track is set to a beautiful piece of music Gareth Sampson wrote, which we feel speaks particularly to those who find themselves in vulnerable and exposed situations. This is then followed by an improvisation on percussion by Phil Steventon, with Fontane Liang on harp.