Remember as kids successfully crossing the monkey bars for the first time? Pure success! For so many times we may have struggled making it across. Sore hands and arms, from every metal bar we tried to cross. Sometimes even falling on the earth below us. Yet, with pure determination we would get up and try again. Then that one day came where we crossed those bars with ease and grace like a gymnast! We couldn’t wait to show our friends or family our new acquired skill. “Look at me, I can cross the monkey bars!” we’d say with pride. For there is something definitely to be said about perseverance and accomplishing something that we worked so hard to accomplish. Though it wasn’t always just our own perseverance that helped us. A lot of times, it was a friend or maybe a parent below us encouraging us that we could make it. And every time that we fell, they would holler at us to get back up, we can do it! Or even when we were real small a loved one would hold us up and help us cross until we were big enough to try by ourselves. Life can feel like monkey bars. Sometimes it can feel hard to take that next move forward and we can be worried about falling. But the thing is, God is always with us, helping to grab that next bar and move forward. He’s with us to catch us if we fall and is always encouraging us to try again. With God, we do come out on the other side and victorious. So, friend if you’re crossing your monkey bars of life right now, bring God alongside you. For when we do, it will always end up being pure success!

Erin Fitts-Brower

Monkey bars

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Joshua 1:9 NIV

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”