During some recent prayer and Bible reading, I found myself spending time in Hebrews 13:5-6. I especially appreciate how the Amplified Bible expands God’s promise:
“For He has said, ‘I WILL NEVER [under any circumstances] DESERT YOU [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], NOR WILL I FORSAKE or LET YOU DOWN or RELAX MY HOLD ON YOU [assuredly not]!’ So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently say, ‘THE LORD IS MY HELPER [in time of need], I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?'”
As I reflected on those words, a picture came to mind. Imagine a man who has fallen into a deep well filled with water. The walls are slick and impossible to climb. Every attempt to escape only causes him to slide back down. He knows that if help does not come, he will eventually drown. Then he notices something within reach – the rope used to lower the bucket into the well.
That rope becomes everything.
He wraps his hands around it and holds on with all his strength. He cannot pull himself out. The rope is not the rescue itself, but it connects him to the One who can rescue him. His hope is not in his own ability. His hope is that someone at the top of the well will come, hear his cries, and pull him to safety.
There have been seasons in my life when I felt very much like that man.
The loss of loved ones.
Health concerns that carried more questions than answers.
Ministry challenges.
Financial pressures.
Situations where I simply could not see a way forward.
In those moments, God’s Word became my rope.
I have learned over the years that when emotions are swirling, circumstances are uncertain, and fear is knocking at the door, the Bible provides something solid to hold onto. God’s Word is living and active. It is more than words on a page; it is a lifeline that continually connects us to the God who never leaves us nor forsakes us.
Over the years, I have learned that the power of the rope was found in where it led. The rope connected me to the One who was standing above the well. In the same way, God’s Word continually directs our attention back to God Himself. Every promise, every command, every story, and every truth reminds us that we are not abandoned.
We belong to a faithful God who sees us, knows us, and has promised to never leave us.
Many times, I have opened my Bible and found a promise, a truth, or a reminder that gave me just enough strength to keep holding on for another day. Sometimes that was all I could do – hold on to what God had said. Hebrews 13 reminds us why that matters. Our confidence is not found in our resources, our plans, our health, or even our ability to endure difficult circumstances. Our confidence is found in the promise of God’s presence:
“I will never leave you. I will never forsake you.”
What a remarkable promise.
When everything else seems uncertain, God remains faithful.
When people fail us, He remains faithful. When our strength is exhausted, He remains faithful.
When we cannot see how things will work out, He remains faithful.
Perhaps you are walking through a difficult season today.
If so, I encourage you to do what I have had to do many times over the years – grab hold of the rope.
Open God’s Word.
Read His promises.
Meditate on His faithfulness.
Remind yourself of who He is and what He has said.
And if you have not been reading your Bible regularly, or perhaps have drifted away from that habit, let me encourage you to start again today.
Don’t make it complicated.
Place your Bible where you normally sit each day.
Read a Psalm.
Spend a few minutes in Proverbs.
Then begin reading through one of the Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John. Don’t worry about how much you read or how long you spend reading. The goal is not to check a box or complete a reading plan. The goal is to make God’s Word a daily part of your life. Consistency is far more important than quantity. Give it a try.
Day by day, allow God’s Word to renew your mind, strengthen your faith, and deepen your relationship with Him. You may discover, as I have many times throughout my life, that this lifeline not only sustains you through difficult seasons but also draws you into a closer connection with the God who has promised, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
The same God who has carried you this far is still holding on to you today.
Let’s Pray This Prayer Together:
Father, thank You for Your Word and the hope it brings in difficult seasons.
Thank You for Your promises that remind us You are near, faithful, and trustworthy.
Help us to trust Your promises, hold firmly to Your truth, and remember that You will never leave us nor forsake us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
One of the privileges of ministry is watching God prove His faithfulness in real-life situations. Here are a few ways we have seen Him at work recently through our Lifted Hands family around the world.
(Written by Doug Linser – August 2026)
