Jimbo's Jots

I was a college student in 1984 in the home of one of the college administrators babysitting their two sons. The family had an ATARI 2600 with most of the games. One of those games was Pitfall. The basic premise of the game is for our hero to go through the jungle looking for and picking up treasure. Unfortunately, there are pitfalls along the way – hence the name. Pitfalls would be alligators, snakes, and pits. You could jump or swing over the pitfalls as you went along your way. The boys could fly through each level and safely land the hero, eventually finding treasure. I, on the other hand, even knowing there are pitfalls and things meant to harm in my way, could only go so far before my hero would be killed in his trek. Even though I could see the pitfalls coming up, I still could not get my head to react and send a message to my hands quick enough. Very quickly I was starting the game over.

We feel like that periodically, don’t we? We experience pitfalls. Sometimes we anticipate them coming. Sometimes, it feels like we’re running a race and everyone starts throwing hurdles in out of nowhere. It reminds me of an old spiritual song:

Trials dark on ev’ry hand, / and we cannot understand /All the ways that God would lead us /to that blessed Promised Land; / But He’ll guide us with His eye, / and we’ll follow till we die; / We will understand it better by and by.

Oft our cherished plans have failed, / disappointments have prevailed, / And we’ve wandered in the darkness, / heavyhearted and alone; / But we’re trusting in the Lord, / and according to His Word, / We will understand it better by and by.

The pitfalls are there!! Sometimes you see them, sometimes, not. As we sing, we do not always understand. Even trusting in God, we ask, and seek for meaning and purpose . . . comprehension and discernment.

We’ve heard the statement, “God will never give you more than you can handle.” I do not think that is a completely accurate statement. How about this? “God will always promise to be with you through the pitfalls.” Jesus said this, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have [pitfalls]. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

You’ve been given the plan to help with the pitfalls. Understand that you have been given a promise of God’s provision. Trust Him to help overcome the pitfalls!

Blessings as you experience the pitfalls! Be blessings to others as they experience their pitfalls!