4 Ways to Fly Again When Life Knocks You Down

The other day, there was a fly in my kitchen. I know, I know, that’s not news because it’s summertime and there will be flies. Stay with me anyway.

The fly had to go, it needed to die. Now, as I said, I was in the kitchen and didn’t have a fly swatter or a rolled-up newspaper (you know you use rolled up paper), and I couldn’t go find anything because I would have lost its location.

So, I took off my shoe and started following this winged disgrace around, hoping it would land and I could get a good swat in.

Okay, here was my problem, it never landed, and it kept doing that zigzag swirl fly pattern thing so that I couldn’t catch it.  Also, it should be noted that I wear glasses so trying to keep up was crucial. Well, I did what anyone would do and just started swinging at the air.

I swung my shoe about three good times with no success. The fourth time though, I knocked the fly out of the air.

Initially, I didn’t see where it fell, so I couldn’t be sure that I’d hit it at all. Then, I caught sight of it as it was crawling away… swiftly. Sidebar: Is it actually crawling for a fly or is it walking?

Anyhoo, as I approached it, I tried sneaking because I fully expected this thing to take flight and send me on another irritating chase. To my surprise, it didn’t, it never even flinched a wing. I don’t know if it couldn’t or if it was in shock and just didn’t try. So, yes, I did, I put my shoe back on and stepped on it. I could have used the other shoe but I wanted the swatter shoe to have the satisfaction of finishing the job (go ahead and laugh). 

When Life Knocks You Down, God Will Pick You Up

Now, as goofy as it may sound, I saw myself in that fly. Not its grossness, come on guys, but its lack of willingness to fly after being knocked down.

I don’t know about you, but I have been smacked down before and come face-to-face with that “shoe” that did the smacking and felt it was not even worth trying to get away. This caused me to decide to take my loss and crawl away, just as the fly did. I was afraid and defeated to the point that I didn’t think flying was possible again.

Though it’s not easy, we must always get back up after we’ve been knocked down. Your circumstances cannot step on you if you move those wings and return to the atmosphere where you belong.

Tough truth, you have got to be willing to fly again because staying beneath your potential is detrimental to your purpose. No, I am not saying that it will be easy or that you aren’t justified in your hesitation to fly again, but remember, you belong to God and He will not lead you anywhere that He cannot and will not keep you.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Most times, it is difficult to trust your wings after you have been, seemingly, knocked from the air. Here are a few things to remember when your flight fails you:

1. Rely on God’s strength. His strength will carry us when we cannot do it on our own. When you don’t see your way back, wait on God to renew you. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
2. Don’t let tired take over. Life gets hard and sometimes it seems easier to just give in and give those wings a rest, but you have got to get back up. “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” Galatians 6:9
3. Remain consistent. Believe it or not, continuing to get back up and go forward after being knocked down is a form of consistency. Taking flight again counts as a win, though it can be tempting to stay down and take the “L”. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12
4. Know God has you covered even when you fall. I know it may be hard to see God in certain situations, but God is always keeping you. “Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.” Psalms 37:24

Please remember when life knocks you down, it’s only a reason to get back up. Go ahead – try your wings, again.