“The steps of a man are from the Lord, and he establishes him in whose way he delights; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord is the stay of his hand” (Ps 36:23-24).
Even if we walk steadfastly in the ways of the Lord, constantly seeking His will, we are not immune to stumbling. That is why Scripture warns us not to feel too secure: “Let any one who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12).
Our Father allows us to be tempted and tested. We cannot be exempt from this dimension, because our Father wants to make us mature. But we can always be sure that God “will not let you be tempted beyond your strength” (1 Cor 10:13), “but with the temptation He will also provide the way of escape” (v.13b). However, it is equally certain that trials will come, and that our Father will use them to strengthen our endurance.
Now the heavenly Father knows exactly what state we are in. He knows the extent to which He can test us, and He also knows whether we are ready to fight. The verse of the Psalm we have heard today certainly alludes to a man who is ready to fight: in him the Lord rejoices and assures him of His help.
He who is ready to fight, who gets up after defeats, who repents when he has failed, who does not despair in the face of his weakness, who clings to the love of the Father even when he does not feel it: he will be held by the Lord so that he will not stumble. He holds his hand so that he does not fall into the abyss and perish.
Our Father delights in securing our steps, especially by allowing us to experience again and again His faithfulness and His care for us, for without His help we would not be able to withstand the dangers. Let us therefore trust more in His help than in our own strength. In this way our steps will be firm in spite of all difficulties.