The tightrope that I’m walking just sways and ties
The devil as he’s talking with those angel’s eyes
And I just want to be there when the lightning strikes
And the saints go marching in
And sing slow it down
Through chaos as it swirls
It’s us against the world
— Coldplay (Us Against the World)
Do you ever get the feeling that living your life is like walking on a tightrope? You’re standing between two very steep cliffs, not only trying to balance your weight so you don’t go falling into the canyon, but also figuring out how you’re going to take steps to get to the other side. This looked a lot easier before you started. Then the wind starts to pick up and makes the rope sway, and you stumble over your own feet. Now you feel totally out of control and you’re about three seconds from panicking because you’re leaning a little too dangerously to one side. Sound a bit chaotic? How about lonely?
I imagine these same feelings arise when “life happens.” Maybe your job is not giving you the hours you wanted, maybe you realize your roommates are not as perfect as you are, or maybe you even accidentally run the Home Depot truck you rented into the ceiling of your parking garage (that last one was me). And I haven’t even mentioned the sharing campaigns, bible studies, and special missions yet. The truth is, feeling overwhelmed by life can really make you feel like it’s just you against the world.
Isolation is one of Satan’s greatest methods to destroying a disciple’s walk with God. As it says in 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Lions can be very tactful when they hunt for their prey. They almost always go for the animal in the herd that is either injured or young, and they attack when it’s easy to separate them from the rest. Satan’s tactics are the same: he wants you to feel alone like no one understands what you are going through and that you have to handle it on your own. Then it becomes easier to take you out. Disciples can be deceived into thinking that just because they are in the kingdom they won’t ever get lonely, but isolation is something you do to yourself, not that others do to you.
There have been times in my walk with God that I isolated myself without even realizing I was doing it. For example, I had a lot of expectations when I went on my first mission team to Seattle; I was going to crank and baptize 50 people the first year, lead 6 bible talks, and then take over the world. Okay, maybe I wasn’t that outlandish, but I did have dreams in mind that didn’t play out as I’d hoped, and as a result, my relationship with God suffered and I began to pull my heart back from people. In my entitlement, I became critical of those around me, and I stopped making as much of an effort to build deep relationships. I had given Satan a foothold, and he got me on the tightrope by myself.
If you find yourself doing the same things, only spending time with certain people, or maybe desiring to be by yourself more than with disciples, then it might be time for a heart check. Are you feeling overwhelmed by what’s on your plate? Are you discontent with your role in the church? Do you feel lonely? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then I have good news for you: You are not alone!
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
Two weeks ago, I had the privilege of attending a Coldplay concert with several brothers and sisters, and I was blown away by how inspiring the performance was. There was one song that I had never heard before, but quickly connected with, called “Us Against the World.” I listed some of the lyrics above because I felt that they depict much of what a disciple goes through. We are constantly on the attack from the devil, but all we want is to make it to the day “when the lightning strikes and the saints go marching in.” But more than that, I think that it’s a reminder that no matter how chaotic life can get, it’s us against the world. The journey of following Christ is not meant to be walked alone. Jesus himself is leading the way across the tightrope, never letting go of our hands, and when we take a moment to look up, we see our brothers and sisters also balancing on the same rope. We may be at different places across the chasm, some ahead and some behind, but we are together. And since we make up the body of Christ, “if one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it” (1 Corinthians 12:26).
My challenge for you is to cling tightly to your brothers and sisters in the kingdom because we are all we have. In today’s time when it seems like something tragic happens every day, we need each other more than ever. If you feel distant from the family, get open with your discipler and repent. Set up quiet times with people you may not be as close with, and go on dates to build tighter friendships. You may find that more people can relate to you than you think. Staying together is the only way that we can conquer the world before it conquers us, for “a cord of three strands is not easily broken” (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
And now always remember: slow it down, through chaos as it swirls, it’s US against the world.
We are family… to do the impossible!
Delaney Julien