Falling -- A Supernatural Experience
BY Maria Morrow

As I child we used to play this game. We would dare each other to stand
straight as a board and fall straight backward into the arms of a strong and
capable adult. It's strange that no matter how many times you've seen it
done it is still so difficult to do. It's really funny to watch teenagers
play this game. It goes so contrary to our mind and body's reasoning. It
takes such complete faith and trust in the one who is catching you. Often
the child falling will chicken out at the last split second, bend his knees
and reach to catch himself.

In the Christian life we often use the expression 'leaning on Jesus'. The
old song says; "leaning on the everlasting arms." The picture is of one
leaning on Jesus for support while walking through some trials of life. I've
done a lot of leaning in my life. And I have found Him to be strong and
stable, full of strength and comfort. I leaned hard on Him through several
long and difficult years when my husband battled a life threatening illness.
I leaned harder still when I walked the difficult road of cancer. There was
never a time that He wasn't there to lean on. Even when the road was too
difficult for me, He lifted me up and carried me.

There recently came a time in my life so difficult, I despaired of hope. The
night had come so dark around me that I couldn't see Him, and I couldn't
feel Him. I knew He was there, somewhere, but why was He now distant from
me? I saw myself reaching, feeling, grasping out into the air, searching for
His love and strength.  Then in answer to my deepest prayer, I heard His
tender voice tell me, "The reason you can not see or reach me in front of
you, is because I am right here behind you. My strong arms are around you,
holding you from behind. All you have to do is lay your head back on my
shoulder and rest. Don't reach, don't struggle, and don't try so hard to
find my presence, just rest again in the everlasting arms."

The peace that filled my heart was so complete, it entered every fiber of my
being. During the difficult months that followed, I often came to this place
of leaning. It was a different type of leaning, more complete.

My circumstances became more difficult still. I was battling a chronic,
debilitating condition and at times the pain would take its toll. It was
during this low time, when I felt the tempest rolling over me and had not
strength in me to fight that I heard His gentle voice again telling me now;
"Fall, just trust me and fall. Fall backwards into my arms with complete
trust, like the game you played as a child."

The experience was so real, as it played out in slow motion in my mind. I
felt myself standing there amidst the billowing storm atop a mountain of
sorrow. I opened my arms outstretched, leaned back and fell. Total
abandonment, total surrender, total trust. Slowly I fell out of the realm of
trouble and storm. I fell into God! I felt the soft landing envelope me with
love. I had not landed on any object of shape or form. I found myself
floating in beautiful, dark, stillness dotted by tiny stars. I would call it
space, but this place was not empty. It was alive and the very nature of it
filled me with courage and faith.

I felt it lift me up, up, up, high above the mountains. I felt the fresh,
cool wind blow in my face. Riding on the wings of the wind.--I was flying!
The view was breathtaking as the mountains passed below me. I thought of the
Bible verse, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they
shall mount up with wings as eagles." I felt my joy return to me, and my
spirit receive new strength. It was refreshing and exhilarating.

I heard His voice speak again. "This is your place of freedom. When your
body is held captive on a bed of suffering, let your spirit fly. Just fall.
Fall on Me. Let yourself go and fall".

Suddenly leaning took on a whole new meaning. In falling I learned to
completely let go and fall, not onto but into the everlasting arms. This is
a wonderful experience.

If you are tempted to think that these are just the foolish daydreams of a
sick woman. Think again. Science with all its knowledge and experience
cannot invent any magic pills for peace; true inner peace that transcends
circumstances. There is no potion for a soul lost in despair and
hopelessness, no tonic for the spirit crushed under the weight of an unnamed
burden.

I have been there and I have found that peace. Though my outward condition
remains unchanged, inwardly I have been healed.--Healed of a crushing burden
more difficult to bare than pain itself. I am free!