I've never been a narrow-waisted guy, especially as I got past the first quarter of my life and started toward middle age.
In fact, my nickname for the last few decades has been "Bear." Because, I suppose, I sort of resemble a bear in my upper body. My being a few inches over six feet and a lot of heavyset roundness has much to do with it, as opposed to an Olympic swimmer's chiseled inverted triangle body.
As I grew older, a situation began to arise with my pants. They no longer stayed where they were intended—around my waist. They began to develop a troubling tendency to visit my knees at the most inopportune moments. No matter what belt I wore or how tightly I cinched it, sooner or later I felt my pants slip off my hips and head south.
I can't begin to tell you how many years (decades) back I started wearing suspenders instead of a belt, but it's been a minute. Suspenders were and are wonderful. For my particularly peculiar body shape, they provide the support I need—not to mention being amazingly more comfortable. And my pants stay where I leave them.
It didn't take long for my suspenders to become a personal trademark. I have at least twenty different colors and types. I wear them year-round with long pants and shorts, whether they are in style or not. Fashion and I parted ways a long time ago, anyway.
Unfortunately, life's ups and downs and twists and turns more often resemble my rather rotund bear-type body than that of a chiseled athlete. And as we navigate our roller coaster lives, our faith can often be subjected to more stress than our proverbial belts can handle. It is inevitable that our faith will, at some point, wind up around our knees like a pair of my old pants.
Fortunately, God has given us suspenders for our faith. Not only has He given us His magnificent Word to lift and support us in times of trouble, but our Father has promised to strengthen us, help us, and uphold us with His righteous right hand. Wow!
Is your belief down around your knees? Has your faith fallen? Open your Bible and find some suspenders. I promise they are in there. And if you need to, simply reach up. You'll discover God already reaching down.
Does your faith need suspenders?
(photo courtesy of pixabay and the author)
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Kevin Spencer likes to play with words, help others play with them, and is privileged to be a staff writer for Christian Devotions. He lives with his beautiful blessing of a wife, Charlotte, and his amazing collegiate grandson, Caleb.