Hanging On

Hanging on with all one’s might, hanging on by the skin of one’s teeth, hanging on for dear life, hanging on by a thread or a strand ... all expressions we use to describe the desperation in which we hang on to something for a desired result.

Hanging on is a waiting period, it’s the distance between now and then, the time between present and future, the journey through a dessert to springs of life-giving, free-flowing water - the sustenance of life. Hanging on is synonymous with hope. And while it’s true that most often we don’t necessarily enjoy that journey we most certainly always enjoy the arrival at the final destination.

I’ve been on one of these journeys for almost a year now. I don’t know how long I’ll be travelling, but I have finally taken notice of what the Lord has been willing to teach me as we’ve traveled this distance together. He has placed a series of oases from which I am to drink, to refresh myself with, that I would not despise the journey but continue to walk with Him from glory to glory.

There are times when looking too far ahead into the future convinces us that there is no relief in sight – perhaps it’s exactly that which makes us long for the end rather than viewing the journey as a training season – a time of spiritual preparation.

“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever,” 1 Cor. 9:25.