My husband and I had the opportunity to do an Escape Room Challenge for our anniversary. It was super fun! If you have never done one, I would highly recommend it. We will definitely be doing another one soon.

 

Well during this challenge we were locked in a room for an hour with clues and a ton of locks to open. We sifted through the clues and found the first combination. But then we went to a lock… and it didn’t work!

 

What! So, we tried the combination backwards… nothing…  we had to ask for help… we used our first clue. Do you know why we needed that help? We were on the wrong lock!!!

 

So, we started trying all the other locks. Some locks were key locks, so we knew those wouldn’t be the right lock. Some locks had longer combinations. But it still took us a little while to figure out which lock it was.

 

As I looked at the clock ticking down, I wondered how we would complete this entire task on time. But we ended up finishing with 15 minutes to spare.

 

See as we went through the process, it got easier. We started piecing clues together quicker. We also knew where all the locks were. We started seeing the patterns quicker and were able to use previous knowledge to help us in our current situation.

 

Yet, we still did struggle occasionally, especially with having the right numbers, wrong order.

escape room help

This is such a clear picture of a Christian’s walk with Christ.  When we start out, we are excited and ready to start the journey. But that first bump leaves us a little shaken. We are not real sure what to do next.

 

It’s so important to ask for that help! The person who helped us with our challenge knew exactly why we were struggling… and he knew exactly what we needed to complete the task…  but we were frustrated and confused.

 

While we were in this rough spot of the challenge, my husband and I could have chosen to throw our hands up. We could have decided to vent about how ridiculous the challenge was or how dumb the lock was. But that would not have actually helped at all with our challenge.

 

One of my biggest hang-ups in my Christian walk has been gossiping. See, I was the person who needed to vent. But my venting sessions usually including me talking poorly about the other person or thing that was causing my frustration. I was seeking the approval of the person I was venting to and definitely not sharing the whole story- just my frustrations. This was in no way helping me grow closer to God. In fact, it was 100% feeding my flesh.

 

I learned that venting did not actually help the situation… and sometimes… most of the time… it was downright sinful. It never fixed anything and still left me feeling defeated.

 

I needed to go to the one who could actually help me in this situation- God. I needed to go to the Lord in prayer. Instead of venting, I needed to pray for that person. I needed to pray that God would help me see that person the way that He sees them. I prayed for patience, understanding, peace, and growth. And I began seeing answered prayers.

 

Through this process, I also learned that I am not alone in this struggle. Other people have this struggle too. Everyone struggles with sin. It’s part of our nature. I needed to intentionally look for other women and men who have walked the same path I have walked and are still standing strong in their relationship with Christ. I need mentors. I need my sisters in Christ.  

 

Think about it- my husband and I would have never gotten out of that Escape Room had we not asked the mentor- the person who knew our path- for help.

 

Sometimes it’s hard to find that circle of Christian women to surround us. As a baby Chrisitan and very much an introvert, I found a lot of support through online communities like Proverbs 31 and Club 31.  It just so happens that during this season of my life, they were doing a book study on the book Keep it Shut by Karen Ehman (a Bible study on gossip). I know this was no coquidence, but a God thing. I learned to love all the ladies who write for them. They are so relatable. They make me feel like they understand my issues, that I am not alone, and I can conquer that sin with God on my side. They gave me the courage to start sharing my own testimonies, struggles, breakthroughs, and so on. 

 

But don’t stop there! Online support, books, blogs, they are great tools. But we are called to fellowship!  A friendship rooted in Christ is an amazing gift! Get involved in your church. Join that prayer group. Join that Bible Study. Join in that fellowship opportunity. 

 

And when you stumble, because you will, reach out to someone for help. Let them console you. Let them pray for you. I know it can be scary to just put yourself out there. But when someone tells you that you are not alone, they’ve been there, and here’s what I’ve learned- it’s seriously a gift from God! Sometimes, you may not like what they have to tell you, but that doesn’t mean they are wrong. It means you need to look to God and access His ways. 

 

We are all on this journey called life. Don’t let a little bump derail you. Keep your eyes on the prize- Christ. And when you need help- ask. 

 

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

1 John 1:7