Parallel Lines

Psalm 18:32, "It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect."

David had many successes...as a shepherd boy, as a man after God's heart, as king.  He also knew failure.  He knew where his successes came from...God and He gave God the credit knowing that in his own strength, the victory is not so sure.

I think if you looked back, you could see a mess of parallel lines.  Straight paths of God walking beside His anointed, then whoa, David goes off and has a weak moment and takes a woman that is not his to have.  The line goes down...and God's line goes down to meet Him.  "Walk with me," He might say and their lines are parallel again...God rescuing, building his kingdom for his descendents (His own Son).  Oh that flesh, David kills Uriah to cover his infidelity and the line dips...and God pursues until David meets Him again and their lines go parallel.
A mighty mess of lines as he fails to parent out of his own weakness, then he meets His Lord again.  He has much to be thankful for and much to praise God about.  We hear Jesus explain it as well, "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven-as her great love has shown.  But whoever has been forgiven little loves little." (Luke 7:47) If, like me, you have been forgiven much, there is abundant praise for His mercy.

My lines are a lot like David's.  The parallel times are so sweet.  Many times I go off on my own, either subcoming to my flesh or when life just hands you some lemons.  I've learned from experience that walking with Him in those times is what arms me with strength to get through; and when I walk with Him, He makes my way perfect...even when life isn't.  And always, to Him goes the glory.