Gravity wins: Not now. Not ever.

In order to create a successful story, there needs to be a solid introduction, a juicy middle, and an ending that makes the reader's mind explode from surprise yet set their mind at ease because everything is wrapped up perfectly. Our lives as believers, in essence, is a story: a story of how God took our lives--something that we saw without purpose--and, as the rising action progressed, gradually showed us otherwise.

We have the introduction down: our story begins when we take our first breath. We can check off the ending, too, but I'll talk about it later. What about the middle part? What is the bridge that mends the gap between the beginning and end?

Here's something to start the rising action: life as a Christian is tough. When we pray to accept Jesus into our hearts, we are enlisting in spiritual warfare. It's easy to simply say "I don't want to deal with this. Why do non-believers get to live life easily? I wish I could have that," but we shouldn't envy them, "for their hearts plot violence, and their words always stir up trouble" (Proverbs 24:2, NLT). As members of God's Army, we will face hand-to-hand combat with Satan's soldiers--his demons.

That is where the falling starts. Satan knows about our strengths and weaknesses and uses them against us, causing the very ground under our feet to collapse. As we get closer to helping bring people to Christ, the devil works harder at trying to sweep us off our feet. Falling on our faces, we feel defeated, which is exactly what he wants, but "God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:13, NLT). When we fall, God gives us the strength to get back up again.

Here's where the excitement comes in: this battle that you're facing may look hopeless, but God has already won the war! Want to know how I know that? Just look at the cross and what it symbolizes! Jesus Christ died on that cross, taking all of our sin and shame with him to Hell, but he DID NOT STOP THERE. That right there, my friend, is how we are able to stand in the victory circle. That is how we know we are going to stand before our Father when He takes us Home to live with Him forever.

The juicy middle is what keeps us from being a stoic character in our story. God walks us through these trials so we are stronger than we were before--so our trust in Him is stronger as we draw closer to Him. We need to trust God's will and God's wisdom. He knows what's best for us and keeps that in mind constantly. My New Living Translation Bible commented this about the first three verses of Psalm 23:

David compares God's concern for his people to that of a shepherd. When we allow God to guide us, we experience peace and contentment. Our Shepherd knows the "green meadows" and "peaceful streams" that will renew us. We will reach these places only by sticking close to him like a sheep would to a shepherd. How close are you?

 Even though Satan throws you to the ground, don't let his stabbing and kicking you while you are down keep you down. Find strength in your Heavenly Father, and get back up again (you're maybe knocked down but not out forever).

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

God bless!