God brings people into our lives to get us through
difficult seasons but we have to let them go when that period is over. If we
don’t let go of the people in our lives who have served their purpose, we’ll not
develop into our own highest potential.
Years ago I lived in Hong Kong, a
bustling city. There are tall buildings everywhere and business is booming
24/7. To accommodate international trade, they’re always building tall
skyscrapers. It always amazed me that, no matter how tall the building to be,
they started the work with bamboo scaffolding. As the building rose, so did the
bamboo scaffolding. Finally, when the skyscraper was finished they removed the
bamboo scaffolding around it. It revealed a stunning work of engineering and
the brilliance of a new skyscraper in Hong Kong skyline.
A similar thing happens as we journey through life. None
of got here on our own and surely none of us will make it to our destiny on our
own. Along the way, God has predestined people to help us rise to the top of
our potential. These people come into our lives at various crossroads. Every
one of them is important but they all serve a purpose. When that purpose is
over, it is wise for us to release the people who were essential to our growth.
I’m not talking marriage here. When we release
the people whose season with us is over, only then can our true brilliance
shine forth, much like the removal of the bamboo scaffolding in the Hong Kong
skyline.
Unfortunately, many people live life stuck with their
bamboo scaffolding on the first floor. They have maxed out their resources.
They do not venture out to meet new people or remove themselves from their
familiar surroundings. If we want to be a person of destiny, then we must be
open to new things in life.
God forbid, but imagine you sprained your ankle and you
had to depend on crutches to get around. Of course, they provide you with
valuable support however, as you begin to heal, your need to use the crutches
will diminish. Eventually, the same crutches that served a valuable purpose at
one point in your life will have no purpose at all. You’ve been healed, and
you’ve moved on to pursue your dreams. Many people make the mistake of holding
on to their crutches way past their time. Today, I’m asking you to put your
crutches to rest. Embrace the new season in your life. It’s time for you to
stand on your own feet and fly.
Several years ago, I went through a crisis in my life. It
affected everything I was doing; I felt so lost and helpless. I couldn’t stand
on my own much less walk by myself. As I struggled my brother, Dr. Neil
Anderson, came to my rescue. He went above and beyond his call of duty to be my
crutch. Slowly, I recovered and became a healthy person again. Two vital things
happened that I’m grateful for to this day. I recognized that I needed help and
my brother recognized that he could provide that help. Eventually, we both
recognized that it was time to dismantle the scaffolding. It was a mutual and
painless effort. I’m grateful to my brother forever. Today I’m helping others
get rid of their crutches.
Mark 10:46-52 tells the story of blind Bartimaeus,
sitting by the road begging. One day he heard that Jesus was passing by. He
began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David,
have mercy on me.” Hearing his plea, Jesus stood still. Friend, you can
stop God in His tracks when you cry out to Jesus. He will help you. He will
heal you. He will set you free. But you have to do like Bartimaeus did. The
Bible says, “And he, casting away his
garment, rose, and came to Jesus.” Friend, if you want to be a healthy
person, you have to throw away your crutches and embrace Jesus.
Let me ask you a question. What has been your crutch? No
matter how beautiful your scaffolding may look like, it’s time to dismantle it.
I challenge you examine your life. Is it drugs, alcohol, credit cards, or some other vice? Are you holding on to insecurity,
low self-esteem, or an addiction? Are you leaning on your friends and relatives
longer than you should? Are you a prisoner of your past mistakes? God wants to
build and expose a beautiful skyscraper in and through you. Let go of your
crutches and let your brilliance shine through.
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