The minutes flew by as I found myself oddly involved in this episode. One of the characters, Jimmy, was on a ledge, trying to talk a stranger out of jumping. With one hand on a pipe for safety and another on the belt of the jumper, this man stayed for hours on the ledge, trying to save this man.
Life hung in the balance.
Jimmy recounted stories of dark times in his life. He tried to inspire this young man that life was worth living. Quoting phrases and sharing stories, he used the impact others made on his own life in order to impact the one beside him. He used his own darkness to bring light to another.
It's just a tv show, yes, but I'll admit to you, I was crying by the end. Crying because I know people going through some tough stuff, hard circumstances and difficult relationships. Crying because I've had people admit they didn't feel like living anymore. Crying because God uses lives to impact lives.
And then Jimmy said this to his new found "friend".
"When you're going through hell, keep on going."
And then I cried a little more. Because life is hard. Really hard sometimes. And that's when we need a friend to remind us to keep on going. Not to give up. Keep pressing forward.
To keep going.
And my heart was filled with a little bit of hope. I have friends in my life who need me to sit beside them, one hand on a pipe for safety and another on their belt. I can remind them "when you're going through hell, keep on going..." but you won't go alone. I'm beside you.
But my hand isn't holding on to a physical pipe, my hand is holding on to Jesus. And instead of coming up with clever phrases and feel-good quotes, I can whisper the living and active Word of God.
Jesus will use you in the life on another. Just take a deep breathe, wrap your hand around the safety of God and His word and grab the belt of a close friend. Maybe use words, maybe just be there. Both will make a difference.
"The LORD is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one." Psalm 28:8
