I was scrolling through Facebook the other day (yes, I still use it by I scroll much less) and I came across an interesting story. It goes like this:
“A pastor of a small church would occasionally call on one gentleman to pray, and every time this one particular guy would pray, he would end with the strangest statement, “And, oh Lord, prop us up on our leaning side.”
Finally, the pastor pulled him aside, and he said, “I love the way you pray, but I don’t understand your little closing phrase. What are you talking about – prop us up on our leaning side?” He responded, “Well, Pastor, I’m a farmer. I live out on the farm and, you know, I live in the country. I’ve got an old barn, and it’s been there a long time. It’s been through a lot of weather, and a lot of storms, and a lot of bugs have eaten at it.”
He said, “I got to looking at it one day when I was riding on my tractor, and I noticed that it was leaning to one side. So I thought to myself, oh my goodness! The barn is leaning, and it’s a matter of time before the whole thing falls.
He continued, “So, you know what I did? I went and got some pine beams, and I propped it up on its leaning side.” He said, “It still leans, and probably always will. But I propped it up on its leaning side. And it’s not going to fall down because I propped it up on its leaning side. And I got to thinking about it.
When I was on the tractor, Pastor, and I was riding in the field, I thought about the kind of year I’ve had, and some of the storms I’ve been through, and some of the people that are bugging me, and eating away at my joy and eating away at my spirit. And I just got to thinking, you know, I’m still here! I’m still standing after all that stuff I’ve been through. The storms, and the howling winds – they couldn’t topple me. I’m still standing by the grace of God.”
He concluded, “From time to time, I find myself leaning. Leaning toward my old desires, leaning toward anger, leaning toward becoming bitter or hateful at the people who are bugging me, or leaning toward going back to the old habits and the old life I used to have. And when I feel myself start to lean toward that tendency, I just remember that old barn, and I pray out loud - "Lord, thank you for propping me up on the leaning side."
- Jentezen Franklin
I absolutely love this! As followers of Jesus, we are called to be transformed; to change; to be made new in Christ. But sometimes, we start to lean back towards those old ways of the world, rather than stand tall in the ways of Christ. How awesome is it to remember that God is there, holding us up to prevent us from falling?!
I know for me, I tend to lean towards seasons of doubt, laziness, and bully-like control of others. Those props that God uses sometimes look like family and friends holding me accountable, calling me out for my nonsense. Sometimes, they are a still small voice inside. Sometimes, they are like being smacked in the head with a two-by-four. Sometimes, it’s a piece of scripture or a story like this one.
So I ask you, what are the things you tend to lean towards? How do you see God holding you up? If you can’t see it now, look backwards in time… can you see God now?
"Lord, thank you for propping me up on the leaning side."
Comment your thoughts below!
Blessings friends,
Pastor Nicole