The End of Our Rope

The end of our rope.

The end of ourselves.

Sometimes God has to take His children to that place. Invariably, it's because they have taken the reins of their own lives, decided that they know what will bring them happiness, and that they can achieve all that they want without God. Why we always want to rely on ourselves when we, better than anyone else, know how preposterous that is, is a human mystery. Pride, independence, men's approval--all the basics of self-worship are in play.
And the circumstances that bring us to the end of our rope--the end of ourselves--are, of course, His love--a Father's love--at work. As well as, I believe, His confidence that we will respond in humility when He reveals to us the futility of our endeavoring to find meaning in our life without Him at its center.
If there was an easier way to restore us to Him, He would have used it, but we are so stubborn, so resistant to His will. Yet, it is only in His will, resting in His love, relying on His wisdom and guidance that we can experience the abundant life that brings joy, meaning, fulfillment, and peace to all that we do. It's at the end of our rope that we see the consequences of our rebellion against His love. And so we let go of our pride and cling to Him, find His comfort, bring joy and encouragement to our souls (and the souls of those who love us) and are equipped to live fruitful lives that touch those to whom He has sent us. The end of our rope--the end of ourselves--is truly a new beginning, the beginning of a walk with Him that brings Him glory and us joy. 

"All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."