Recently I was reading a short essay by Mark Twain titled “Taming the Bicycle” with my young granddaughters. The piece humorously describes the author’s efforts to learn to ride a bike with the help of “Expert” who assisted him as he attempted to master the skill. Despite numerous falls and collisions, the gibes of a fence-sitting peer who observed his efforts, and the heart-stopping challenges of navigating turns and steering clear of rocks and excited dogs, the author eventually succeeded. He ended the essay by encouraging others to get a bicycle, jokingly concluding, “You won’t regret it, if you live!”

My granddaughters were intrigued by the story and asked when I learned to ride a bike. I responded that when I was eight years old, my ten-year-old sister got her first two-wheeler. Getting her permission to try riding it took a fair amount of sisterly pressure, but after a few weeks, I finally wore her down and she agreed. My “Expert” was my dad, who patiently jogged behind me, steadying my progress by hanging onto the bike fender as I wobbled up and down the sidewalk. Like Twain, I eventually mastered the skill, thanks to my expert’s help.

That memory was amusing, but after my granddaughters went home, my thoughts turned to a spiritual application based on the word “falling” and the critical help we need as we navigate the challenges of life. I pondered the fact that I have been blessed for many years by an “Expert” who has kept me from falling spiritually: Jesus, the Son of God. Jude 1:24-25 states, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.”

Of course, Jesus is immeasurably superior to the best earthly expert. He not only supports me in very real and tangible ways, but He is vital to my spiritual stability! Here are a few of the ways He has kept me from falling.

He stays beside me.

Proverbs 18:24 assures us that “there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Along with my sister, I have a brother. Now that we are older, I can acknowledge that he’s a close friend too (though my younger self would never have admitted this). However, while I know he would assist me in any way possible, there are obvious limitations—he has his own life, work, and family to absorb his time and attention! Not so with Jesus, He is always with me. Never once has He been out on a job, at an appointment, or away on vacation when I needed Him. To the contrary, He has faithfully been by my side in times of sickness, grief, and also during the day-to-day pressures that life brings. I’ve found that He’s only a prayer away.

An example comes to my mind. Some years ago, my husband contracted a staph infection following a supposedly minor surgical procedure. After a week in the hospital and a course of heavy-duty antibiotics, the infection seemed to be clearing up, and he was allowed to come home. However, just a few days later, it was clear that infection was again raging through his body. His fever soared to over 104 degrees, and when I called the doctor, I was told to bring him back into the hospital immediately. However, before I helped him to the car, I called our pastor to request prayer. He prayed right then over the phone, and the Lord instantly touched my husband. Within moments his temperature dropped to normal. There were still challenges ahead, but that immediate answer to prayer gave me the assurance I needed that God was with us in our crisis.

He encourages me.

Encouragement is a great form of assistance! Reflecting again on my bike-riding attempts, I remember my inclination to stop whenever I saw something ahead that I considered hazardous—a pinecone on the pavement, a bump where a root protruded, or even some leaves that I feared would make the sidewalk slippery. As I began to slow down, my expert would urge from behind me, “You’re doing fine, Karen! You can do it! Keep pedaling!”

In my Christian life, how grateful I am for my Savior’s support. Many times, He has urged me to “keep pedaling” in a spiritual sense. Sometimes His encouragement comes through a familiar Scripture that is exactly what I need, or through words in a sermon that apply precisely to a current challenge. At other times, He speaks through the reassurance of a godly friend, a settled peace that comes during a time of prayer, or through the lyrics of a song.

That was the case a few months ago. In the prayer room before our church service, we listened to prayer requests describing many needs. A faithful worker was back in the hospital, undergoing scans to determine if her cancer had returned. A sister had been placed on hospice; an elderly friend had fallen and fractured her shoulder; and a brother from one of our branch churches had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. There were requests for pressing financial needs, for guidance in making important decisions, and for the salvation of loved ones. As I walked from the prayer room to the sanctuary, I somberly pondered these challenges. However, a vocal duet during the church service directed my thoughts to the One who never fails. The words reminded me (and others too, I am sure),

“I can trust Jesus,
I can trust Jesus.
He never once has failed
To meet my needs.
He is my strong tow'r
The strength in my weakest hour.
I can trust Jesus,
He takes care of me.”¹

What an encouragement! For days afterward, that song went through my mind, and I knew it was comfort from the One who is always there to encourage me when my heart is heavy.

He supports me when I feel unsteady.

Life occasionally takes some twists and turns that could upset spiritual equilibrium. We’ve probably all experienced a few of those “curves in the road,” and they may bring anxiety. A feeling of unsteadiness can also be caused by criticism or rejection. Opposition from family, fellow employees, or acquaintances, can be difficult to navigate. Suffering and injustice can test our trust in a loving and powerful God, and turmoil in the world can be destabilizing as well.

 Those of my generation here in the United States have not endured wars in our own land, but many believers around the world have. And we all remember the global pandemic that isolated us for long months and brought uncertainty and chaos across the globe. In such times, this verse from the Psalms often comes to mind: “In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul” (Psalm 94:19). Thank God that He provides the stability we need in times like these! We can lean on His promise, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness” (Isaiah 41:10).

In times of societal turmoil or personal trials, I cling to the Biblical image of hope as “an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast” (Hebrews 6:19). An anchor presupposes the existence of waves both big and small—conflicts, challenges, and pressures that can move a ship and even carry it out to sea. However, a securely fastened anchor holds the ship fast in the everyday pressure of the tides, as well as when the waves swell and rage in a storm. Our part is to stay firmly attached to Him; His part is to stabilize us.

Many years ago, my grandmother’s final words on this earth were “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee” (Isaiah 26:3). What a precious reminder of the peace and stability God gives!

He keeps me from stumbling over obstacles.

The Greek word aptaistos, translated as falling in Jude 24, has a connotation of “stumbling”—of coming up against an obstruction that could cause a spill. In the physical realm, falls can occur for a variety of reasons. They may be caused by weakness, poor balance, or lightheadedness. However, the most common reason is tripping over an obstacle—a curb we didn’t see, a branch on the pavement, a misplaced item such as shoes or toys, or a turned-up corner of a rug. (I once broke a wrist by falling over that obstacle!)

In the spiritual realm, we know that Satan puts obstacles in our path with the intent of tripping us up. The Bible identifies many of those stumbling blocks—pride, a root of bitterness that is allowed to spring up, an unforgiving spirit, disobedience, turning aside into false doctrine—but God will help us avoid those obstacles if we look to Him.

While I’ve been known to engage in some fairly dramatic falls physically, I’m grateful that God guards me to keep that from happening spiritually. The word keep in Jude 24 is from the Greek verb phulassō, and it means “to protect by taking careful measures, guard.” Notice that Jude says God is “able.” There are no limits to His ability to preserve us! Yes, I could remove myself from His watchful care by ignoring His instructions and choosing my own way instead of His. But if I am listening to Him and obeying, I can be assured that He will not only keep me from falling spiritually, but also that He will one day present me “faultless” before the presence of His glory.

What an unshakable, reliable, solid guarantee! What a boost to our faith and courage! The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, because the One who promised is faithful (see Hebrews 10:23). How grateful we are that we have an unwavering Christ who is committed to keep us from falling. 

¹ The Collingsworth Family, “I Can Trust Jesus,” Track 5 on We Still Believe, Crossroads Records, 2007, CD.

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