LET GO OF THAT CRUTCH!
We don’t have to be physically injured or disabled to need or use a crutch. All of us have crutches that we rely on to sustain us in this challenging journey called life. It may be a crutch that seem harmless and are considered good in the eyes of the world such as career, relationships, education, and religion. Or it may be a crutch that the world considers “not good” such as drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and those that badly affect the health. Yet, even these so called “bad crutches” can be justified as some coping mechanism by those who are engaged in it or who have engaged in it. A weed smoker I recently met told me that weed made her cope with the domestic violence she experienced from her husband.
In the eyes of God, any crutch outside of Him and His Word, is not acceptable, even if it is good in the eyes of the world. A mother whose crutch is her child may seem harmless and even good, but not from God’s perspective.
I’ve had different crutches at different seasons of my life. As a teenager, my boyfriend became my crutch and means of escape from my very unreasonably strict Dad. After I gave birth to my eldest son, he (my son) became my crutch, to help me cope with the rejection that I felt from his father. From here, cigarettes became my crutch to sustain me during those tough times in my previous marriage. After my separation from my ex-husband, my career became my crutch. I poured out all my energy into it to distract me from thinking about my personal life. Partying also became a good outlet for me during this season.
When I surrendered my life to Jesus, I still had these crutches with me: cigarettes, alcohol, career, and a serious relationship. Jesus accepted me for who I was, even with all those extra baggage. He saw my serious desperation for change and met me where I was. He extended his hand to me as if saying: It’s okay to have those crutches for now. Yes, Jesus was so gracious to me that He didn’t demand anything from me. He knew the level of my understanding at that time.
A few months after I got saved, I got convicted of my cigarette smoking and asked God to help me. I got sick and had no choice but to quit smoking. Actually, that was God’s answer to my prayer. He knew that only a sickness can make me quit. Not long after that, God started taking away my career from me. I lost my desire and passion for it. All I wanted to do was serve Him. I then quit my career and went full-time in ministry. Over a year later I was convicted of living in with a man I was not married to. I mean, we have been together for a while and I was just waiting for him to get divorced, so I thought it was alright to be together. But one day I felt that the scales fell off my eyes and I finally saw my sin for what it was. I repented, broke up with my boyfriend, and moved forward. Slowly but surely, God started removing my crutches from me.
This is how God works in us. He understands that we are frail. He knows that our transition from the world to Him takes time and requires a process. He doesn’t take everything from us right away. He works in His own perfect time, when He knows we are ready for it.
Where were you when God saved you? Were you in the hospital, prison, in a business going bankrupt, in your kitchen looking at unpaid bills, in your room crying over a broken relationship? Didn’t He meet you where you were, without conditions? Didn’t He accept you as you were?
Let’s look at some men in the Bible.
When God revealed to Abraham that he was going to be the father of many nations, he believed but didn’t act on faith. He relied on his wife’s opinion and followed her advice. Thus Ishmael was born. Being Abraham’s only son back then, I can just imagine how this child may have been the center of his attention, and how he may have been a crutch to him. He was his pride and joy and what he thought was God’s promise to him.
God appeared to Abraham 13 years later. Can you believe that? 13 years later. That is a long time. When God appeared, He finally came to fulfill the promise that He has given Abraham. A year later, Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac, God’s promise. After the child was weaned, God took away Ishmael from Abraham. God removed Abraham’s crutch because it was no longer necessary.
God tested Abraham with Isaac. He wanted to be sure that he is not going to end up as another crutch. Abraham proved himself. He passed the test.
When Isaac was old and his eyes were blind, he called his more favored son, Esau, to prepare something for him to eat, and so that he can bless him, his firstborn, before he (Isaac) dies. Rebekah heard it and advised his more favored son, Jacob, to take Esau’s place. In short, she advised him to deceive his father. Jacob got the blessing and left, out of fear for his life. He went to his Uncle Laban’s house and fell in love with his daughter, Rachel. It was love at first sight. He worked seven years for her, only to be tricked and deceived by Laban who gave him his other daughter, Leah. Jacob then had to work an additional seven more years for Rachel, which he didn’t mind because he loved her so much. Eventually, Jacob got sick of his father-in-law’s treatment of him and deceived him with his flocks (Geneis 30:25-43). He left a very rich man.
Jacob’s deceiving ways became his crutch. God allowed it to happen for a season and for a purpose. But then it was time to take it away from him.
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob” [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]. And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel (contender with God); for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:24-28)
Jacob’s name in itself meant deceiver. He has been carrying this with him since the day he was born. God had to finally take it away from him and replaced his name with Israel.
Moses’ story is another clear example of how God patiently deals with our crutches and how He takes it away at the right time. Moses grew up a very rich kid. He was royalty. He was powerful. Then God pulled him out of there and brought him back to his people. He became their leader, and so he still maintained his powerful status.
God used Moses’ staff as a source of power. It was the staff that invoked plagues on the Egyptians, the staff that was transformed into a snake and back, the staff that parted the Red Sea, and the staff that he used to produce water out of the rock. This staff became his crutch. Finally it was time to let go of this crutch.
And the Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month. And the people dwelt in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there. Now there was no water for the congregation, and they assembled together against Moses and Aaron. And the people contended with Moses, and said, Would that we had died when our brethren died [in the plague] before the Lord! And why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, we and our livestock? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us into this evil place? It is no place of grain or of figs or of vines or of pomegranates. And there is no water to drink.
Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent of Meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them. And the Lord said to Moses, Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to give forth its water, and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.
So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation before the rock and Moses said to them, Hear now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice. And the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe in Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Israelites, you therefore shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them (Numbers 20:1-12).
It is pretty interesting why God told Moses to “take his rod”. It was a test, for sure. Then he told him to “tell the rock”. It is very evident here that Moses didn’t even hear the “tell” part but only heard the “rod” part. Doesn’t that show how much of a crutch his rod has become to him? It even says here: And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice. Moses got so used with lifting his hand with his rod. God wanted to take that crutch from him but he failed.
All these stories and all other stories in the Bible are examples that God has set for us ... examples that we should learn from, and examples that we should follow. God has a very long grace period for us. But when the time comes for us to give up something, then He will surely test us. It’s up to us whether we will hold on or surrender.
Abraham released Isaac and he was blessed for it. Jacob surrendered his name and he became Israel. Moses failed and didn’t make it to the promised land.
How about you? What crutches are you holding on to that God has been very gracious with? Is it your children, your career, your ministry, your old habits, or something else? Is God finally telling you to let it go?
I can hear God saying: “You don’t need those anymore. Let go. Hold on to me. I am the Only One you need”.
I’ve had different crutches at different seasons of my life. As a teenager, my boyfriend became my crutch and means of escape from my very unreasonably strict Dad. After I gave birth to my eldest son, he (my son) became my crutch, to help me cope with the rejection that I felt from his father. From here, cigarettes became my crutch to sustain me during those tough times in my previous marriage. After my separation from my ex-husband, my career became my crutch. I poured out all my energy into it to distract me from thinking about my personal life. Partying also became a good outlet for me during this season.
When I surrendered my life to Jesus, I still had these crutches with me: cigarettes, alcohol, career, and a serious relationship. Jesus accepted me for who I was, even with all those extra baggage. He saw my serious desperation for change and met me where I was. He extended his hand to me as if saying: It’s okay to have those crutches for now. Yes, Jesus was so gracious to me that He didn’t demand anything from me. He knew the level of my understanding at that time.
A few months after I got saved, I got convicted of my cigarette smoking and asked God to help me. I got sick and had no choice but to quit smoking. Actually, that was God’s answer to my prayer. He knew that only a sickness can make me quit. Not long after that, God started taking away my career from me. I lost my desire and passion for it. All I wanted to do was serve Him. I then quit my career and went full-time in ministry. Over a year later I was convicted of living in with a man I was not married to. I mean, we have been together for a while and I was just waiting for him to get divorced, so I thought it was alright to be together. But one day I felt that the scales fell off my eyes and I finally saw my sin for what it was. I repented, broke up with my boyfriend, and moved forward. Slowly but surely, God started removing my crutches from me.
This is how God works in us. He understands that we are frail. He knows that our transition from the world to Him takes time and requires a process. He doesn’t take everything from us right away. He works in His own perfect time, when He knows we are ready for it.
Where were you when God saved you? Were you in the hospital, prison, in a business going bankrupt, in your kitchen looking at unpaid bills, in your room crying over a broken relationship? Didn’t He meet you where you were, without conditions? Didn’t He accept you as you were?
Let’s look at some men in the Bible.
When God revealed to Abraham that he was going to be the father of many nations, he believed but didn’t act on faith. He relied on his wife’s opinion and followed her advice. Thus Ishmael was born. Being Abraham’s only son back then, I can just imagine how this child may have been the center of his attention, and how he may have been a crutch to him. He was his pride and joy and what he thought was God’s promise to him.
God appeared to Abraham 13 years later. Can you believe that? 13 years later. That is a long time. When God appeared, He finally came to fulfill the promise that He has given Abraham. A year later, Sarah conceived and gave birth to Isaac, God’s promise. After the child was weaned, God took away Ishmael from Abraham. God removed Abraham’s crutch because it was no longer necessary.
God tested Abraham with Isaac. He wanted to be sure that he is not going to end up as another crutch. Abraham proved himself. He passed the test.
When Isaac was old and his eyes were blind, he called his more favored son, Esau, to prepare something for him to eat, and so that he can bless him, his firstborn, before he (Isaac) dies. Rebekah heard it and advised his more favored son, Jacob, to take Esau’s place. In short, she advised him to deceive his father. Jacob got the blessing and left, out of fear for his life. He went to his Uncle Laban’s house and fell in love with his daughter, Rachel. It was love at first sight. He worked seven years for her, only to be tricked and deceived by Laban who gave him his other daughter, Leah. Jacob then had to work an additional seven more years for Rachel, which he didn’t mind because he loved her so much. Eventually, Jacob got sick of his father-in-law’s treatment of him and deceived him with his flocks (Geneis 30:25-43). He left a very rich man.
Jacob’s deceiving ways became his crutch. God allowed it to happen for a season and for a purpose. But then it was time to take it away from him.
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob” [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]. And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel (contender with God); for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” (Genesis 32:24-28)
Jacob’s name in itself meant deceiver. He has been carrying this with him since the day he was born. God had to finally take it away from him and replaced his name with Israel.
Moses’ story is another clear example of how God patiently deals with our crutches and how He takes it away at the right time. Moses grew up a very rich kid. He was royalty. He was powerful. Then God pulled him out of there and brought him back to his people. He became their leader, and so he still maintained his powerful status.
God used Moses’ staff as a source of power. It was the staff that invoked plagues on the Egyptians, the staff that was transformed into a snake and back, the staff that parted the Red Sea, and the staff that he used to produce water out of the rock. This staff became his crutch. Finally it was time to let go of this crutch.
And the Israelites, the whole congregation, came into the Wilderness of Zin in the first month. And the people dwelt in Kadesh. Miriam died and was buried there. Now there was no water for the congregation, and they assembled together against Moses and Aaron. And the people contended with Moses, and said, Would that we had died when our brethren died [in the plague] before the Lord! And why have you brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we should die here, we and our livestock? And why have you made us come up out of Egypt to bring us into this evil place? It is no place of grain or of figs or of vines or of pomegranates. And there is no water to drink.
Then Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent of Meeting and fell on their faces. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to them. And the Lord said to Moses, Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to give forth its water, and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.
So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as He commanded him. And Moses and Aaron assembled the congregation before the rock and Moses said to them, Hear now, you rebels; must we bring you water out of this rock? And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice. And the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.
And the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, Because you did not believe in Me to sanctify Me in the eyes of the Israelites, you therefore shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them (Numbers 20:1-12).
It is pretty interesting why God told Moses to “take his rod”. It was a test, for sure. Then he told him to “tell the rock”. It is very evident here that Moses didn’t even hear the “tell” part but only heard the “rod” part. Doesn’t that show how much of a crutch his rod has become to him? It even says here: And Moses lifted up his hand and with his rod he smote the rock twice. Moses got so used with lifting his hand with his rod. God wanted to take that crutch from him but he failed.
All these stories and all other stories in the Bible are examples that God has set for us ... examples that we should learn from, and examples that we should follow. God has a very long grace period for us. But when the time comes for us to give up something, then He will surely test us. It’s up to us whether we will hold on or surrender.
Abraham released Isaac and he was blessed for it. Jacob surrendered his name and he became Israel. Moses failed and didn’t make it to the promised land.
How about you? What crutches are you holding on to that God has been very gracious with? Is it your children, your career, your ministry, your old habits, or something else? Is God finally telling you to let it go?
I can hear God saying: “You don’t need those anymore. Let go. Hold on to me. I am the Only One you need”.
Lisa Maki is the founder, publisher, and editor of God'z Gurlz. More about Lisa at ...
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