"The Lord upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down." (Ps. 145:14) What caused you to fall? Maybe it was insecurity, fear or loneliness? You may feel that you just cannot rise up from under the sheer weight of despair. Have you been lugging a heavy burden for a long time, and tried over and over again to lift it off your back, only to fall down again and again?

When you fall, negative, defeatist thoughts tend to come rushing in, don't they? Do you hear yourself saying that it's no use, you're no good, or why bother? Who told you that you would never amount to anything? Who planted those seeds in your head? No matter what others have said to you or about you, you have no right to listen to them. Yes; that's right! If you're a child of the Most High God, then you are very, very special. People may have done or said things to put you down, but God says that he has a future for you. Do not listen to others or your own negative thoughts. Instead, find out what God has to say about you and speak His Promises for you into your life.

God's Word says that no matter what has caused you to fall, "all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Yes; you are here for a purpose! He knew you before the foundation of the world, and has made you to be conformed to the image of His Son, whom He delivered up for you! (Rom. 8: 28-29; 32) If God gave you His very best; would He then not also want you to have the very best?

God is not distant. If you know Him, He is living inside of you! "In him we live, and move, and have our being." (Acts.17:28) However, you cannot always be in perfect step with God. David found that out. He fell numerous times, even though he was anointed to be King over Israel and had a close walk with Him. Throughout the Psalms we find him crying out to the Lord to deliver him from the power of his enemies. In Psalm 142 he cries out loud that his spirit is overwhelmed, there is no one to help him, and that he feels as if his soul is in prison.

David was depressed big time and had almost given up all hope. But by the time he finished telling the Lord about his problems, he ends up saying, in today's terminology, "Listen to me, Lord, you are my protection and all that I need. I've been doing it my way and look where it has got me. You fix it for me, and I will give you all the praise; I know without a doubt that you will send upright people to help me because I know that it's your nature to always give more than I can even think or ask!"

Oh David knew God so well! Yes, he had allowed himself to stray away and do his own thing, but in his distress he knew what to do. Allow his experience to be a valuable lesson to you. What worked for him will work for you!

So, how do you rise from your fall? Cry out loud to God, and tell Him all your troubles. He's your Daddy; He's there for you and wants you to tell him, even though He already knows what you're going through. Then speak the Word of God to Him, reminding Him that you know His promises for you. You can find a verse that applies to your situation and fill in your name. For example, you can paraphrase Jer. 29:11: "For I know the thoughts You think about me, Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give me an expected end." In the process of talking to Him and meditating on His Word, your faith will be stimulated and, like David, you will feel the assurance and peace that God will come through speedily and powerfully.

Remember always that: in all things you are more than conquerors through him that loved you! (Rom. 8:37)