I read the text message on my phone…..
“Here I am in tears….I am holding on by a thread.”
My heart broke and the tears streamed as I pictured the face on the other side of that message. I could so relate to the feeling. We have all been there. You hang on, barely. Knuckles white. You try to keep it all together. To keep yourself composed enough to get through the day.
Hanging on by a thread.
As I kept thinking of those words, my mind went back to Bible times. Rahab, the prostitute, a most unlikely woman to be used of God and yet, God used her mightily. She hid the spies and kept them safe. In exchange, she asked that her life and the life of her family be spared when the city of Jericho was taken. The men agreed but gave her instructions:
We will be bound by the oath we have taken only if you follow these instructions. When we come into the land, you must leave this scarlet rope hanging from the window through which you let us down. (Joshua 2:17-18, NLT)
Rahab’s house stood on the wall of the city of Jericho. Let’s quickly recall the story. The Israelites march around it for 6 days. On the 7th day, they marched, blasted the horn and shouted and the walls of that city came down. Yet Rahab and her family remained safe inside her home, the scarlet rope hanging out the designated window. Joshua kept his word bringing her entire family into the camp of Israel. (You can read the story for yourself in Joshua 2 and 6).
The scarlet rope was all that was needed to spare their lives.
“Scarlet” has so been woven through Scripture.
“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18).
The price of forgiveness fell on Jesus, Who gave His all for us. We are told, “They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him…” (Matthew 27:28).
Maybe the woman with the issue of blood had the right idea….
Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” (Matthew 9:20-21, NIV).
She hung on by a thread and in her tenacity found Jesus and the answer she needed.
Perhaps during those times when life seems to be overwhelming us, it is truly OK to hang on by a thread – the scarlet thread – the thread which people have been hanging on down through the ages. It has never failed nor let anyone down. It has not snapped. That one scarlet thread holds strong and firm and steady.
Want to know what became of Rahab? Well her scarlet rope and act of courage obtained her a place in the genealogy of Christ along with four other women (see Matthew 1:5).
We hold on by a thread.
Today I am joining these linkups …. Hear It, Use It and Sharing His Beauty and Inspire Me Mon. and Motivation Mon. and Mommy Mon. and Making Your Home Sing and Living Proverbs 31 and The Better Mom and The Modest Mom and Giving Up On Perfect and Mom’s Mon. Mingle and Living Well Wed. .
This was perfect for my disastrous day! Thanks for your words of encouragement.
I am grateful that they encouraged! Thank you!
That picture is a great visual of what it feels like sometimes in life! Your post gave me a great big picture mentality today. Shifting of my focus from what is seen to what is unseen. Thanks!
May we keep that picture in our minds always.
This is my first visit to your blog, and you caught me. I love the connection you made about the thread we hang on to is Jesus. All of a sudden, instead of a thin, frail, about-to-break lifeline, we have one that has stood the test of time, anchored many souls, and is available to us all. Excellent metaphor. Even more excellent truth. Well done.
Thank you so much for sharing. I am glad that the connection spoke to your heart & strengthened you. Thank you for stopping here!
Good word this morning; I know what it’s like to be holding on by a thread! Sometimes we just need to allow to be broken, because if something is not changed in our lives we will not be what we should or could be! God’s intervention and direction is what strengthens our lives; He is the only one that can fix everything.
Yes, we may be broken but never destroyed. We hold on. Thank you for sharing today!
Your words are full of truth and I love the message you have woven together here. That it’s “OK to hang on by a thread ”“ the scarlet thread ”“ the thread which people have been hanging on down through the ages.” Awesome! Glad I found you through Sharing His Beauty. I’m now following via email and looking forward to reading more. Blessings!
Thank you so much for the follow. I am grateful that they brought you encouragement.