My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. ²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
²⁸ But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds. Psalm 73:26-28

In the 60’s there was a popular board game called ‘Snakes and ladders.’ It was played with more than one person and a dice. If a person landed on a ladder then they would go up the ladder to a better position in the game. However, if they landed on a snake then they would travel backwards in the game to a worse position and have to try to make progress again.

It reminded of how life can give us pitfalls. Some of the things that we think are ladders, like the job promotion that we have secured or the relationship that we have worked hard for, can turn out not to be what they seem if the Lord is not in it. Conversely, the disappointments that masquerade as snakes, like the injury which prevented you from working or the alarm clock that did not go off causing you to miss that opportunity, can be God’s way of getting your attention.

The psalmist in the bible, David, was similarly in one of these predicaments when he cried out to the Lord,

For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.⁴They have no struggles; their bodies are healthy and strong. ⁵ They are free from common human burdens; they are not plagued by human ills. ⁶ Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence. ⁷ From their callous hearts comes iniquity; their evil imaginations have no limits. ⁸ They scoff, and speak with malice; with arrogance they threaten oppression. ⁹ Their mouths lay claim to heaven, and their tongues take possession of the earth. Psalm 73:3-9

Brethren, we can always be assured that God has his hand on us. He alone can turn those so called snakes into ladders, and put you on the platform you were meant to be on. All he asks us to do it to trust him.

The Winans sing ‘Trust in God.’ Click on the picture to listen.