Intertribal Life Newspaper -

Over the course of the last five years I have had knee replacement surgeries on each of my knees. I had the surgeries because of chronic pain in the knee joints, arthritis in the joints and because the cushioning in the joints were gone. If anyone has had knee problems, you can relate to what I went through. Before I had those surgeries, I used a cane to help lessen the tension on those knees. Then, as I was recovering from those surgeries, I used a walker, then two crutches and eventually one crutch. Then I could walk on my own without any assistance.

I have often heard people say that Christians use God as a crutch to get through life. When we look at the Word of God, we do not find a verse or passage that specifically says, "Use God as a crutch because you won't be able to walk without Him." But we find many stories of Jesus causing the blind to see and the lame to walk and giving people a new lease on life.

As an indigenous person, I know that every ethnic group around the globe has their own worldview that either supports, compliments or contradicts the importance of God through Jesus Christ. I also have come to believe that every person, no matter what their background, is using some sort of belief to get them through life. To help them through the chronic pain and discomfort of life. The confusing experiences in life that we all encounter. Even if someone is an atheist (doesn't believe in the existence of God), that person still has a belief that he or she is building his or her life on. We all use crutches (belief systems) to get us through life. To help us cope with life.

If someone likes to work hard during the week, but then spends the weekend drinking, and then goes back to work Monday again, that is his or her belief system, or crutch. If someone likes to work hard and spend the weekends going to sporting events or concerts, but isn't interested in God or church, then that is the belief system, the crutch.

We all must pick a belief system. A crutch to get us through life. Whether we believe it or not, we by default, pick a belief system to live by. A crutch to lean on to help with us deal with life on life's terms.

The interesting thing about using a physical crutch is that it does help with the pain and discomfort. It does help with the healing process. In fact, when I was recovering from my knee surgeries the nurses in charge of the patients' recovery, tell the patients, including me, that regardless of how well we think our recovery is going, we must use both crutches for the first two weeks.

When I was recovering from the first surgery, I felt like I was doing well. I felt proud of the fact that I was only using one crutch. When I came to my first appointment at the recovery clinic, I came in with that one crutch. Then, the nurse scolded me for not having both crutches and reminded me that when I don't use both crutches, I am making the knee vulnerable to buckle. If that happened, I could end up back in the operating room.

The Bible says that because of what happened in the Garden of Eden, humankind fell and was separated from God. Then the entire Old Testament prophesies about a solution to that problem. Then in the New Testament Jesus steps on the scene through the Christmas story and the Easter story and the narrative of the Gospels.

Psalm 46:1–3 says, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging." Many people, as they experience life, feel the earth is giving away beneath their feet. Maybe because of cancer. Maybe because of unemployment. Maybe because of the death of a loved one. Maybe because of childhood trauma that has not been dealt with. The good news is that God is our help in times of trouble. Psalm 121:3 says, "He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber;" God will not let you slip. He will uphold you.

In the New Testament, Paul, when speaking about Jesus Christ says, "I can do all this through him who gives me strength." I love this verse because it refers to Jesus helping us at all times. Leaning on God through Jesus Christ is not a one-time event or something we need just for a few weeks. It is a lifetime decision and commitment.

When I rely on my own strength in dealing with life, I usually get frustrated or depressed or filled with doubt very quickly. Why? Because I haven't been leaning on Jesus as my crutch (my belief system). I have been trying to do it on my own. It's like that nurse is standing there saying, "Why haven't you been walking with both crutches? You'll injure yourself!"

I have used many crutches (belief systems) throughout my lifetime. Yet, when I regularly realign myself with Jesus, I feel secure again. I feel like I am walking with crutches that won't let me down or let me slip. In all things I feel more secure. That doesn't mean life still won't disappoint me, or that troubles of this life won't make me feel weak. But when that happens, I can lean on Jesus as my crutch. I can experience healing in my life through Jesus being my crutch. That makes all the difference in the world.

Parry Stelter is a Bible teacher, author and speaker. He is founder of Word of Hope Ministries. If you

are interested in having Parry do a workshop on dealing with grief, loss and trauma, you can contact him at parry@wordofhopeministries.ca.