The Fall Line: Trusting the Natural Path

A Skiing Devotional

The fall line is the path of steepest descent down a mountain. It's the path that gravity naturally pulls you toward. Every expert skier knows: fighting the fall line is exhausting. Trying to ski sideways across the mountain, trying to avoid the natural descent – it requires constant effort and creates instability.

But skiing with the fall line – accepting the natural path gravity wants you to take – is smooth and efficient. You work with gravity instead of against it. The mountain guides you.

Here's the thing about the fall line: it's scary. It looks steep and direct. Beginners see the fall line and want to avoid it – zigzag across the mountain, go sideways, anything but straight down. But the experienced skier knows the fall line is actually the safest, most efficient path.

Spiritually, God's will is like the fall line.

God has a purpose for your life. A natural path. A direction that makes sense with how you're made and what you're called to. Following it – accepting the fall line of God's will – is smooth and efficient. You work with God instead of against Him. He guides you.

But people instinctively fight it. God is calling them toward full-time ministry but they want to avoid it – zigzag into a career, go sideways into something safer. God is calling them toward a particular relationship or community but they want to avoid it – take a detour, go a different direction. They fight the fall line because it looks steep and scary.

But skiing with the fall line – accepting God's purpose – is actually the path of greatest stability and smoothness and progress. You're not fighting against the mountain (God's design). You're working with it.

Proverbs 3:5-6 says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Submit to Him. Follow the fall line of His will. He'll make your paths straight.

Jeremiah 29:11 says: "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

God knows the fall line. His plan is good. Trust it.

Psalm 37:23-24 says: "The Lord establishes the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."

He establishes your steps. He knows the path. Trust the fall line.

Romans 12:2 says: "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

God's will is good and perfect. It's the fall line. Trust it.

Many Christians exhaust themselves zigzagging across the mountain of life, fighting against God's purpose, trying to avoid the fall line of His calling. They never experience the smooth, efficient movement of skiing with the natural path.

Tomorrow's Practice: This week, identify one area where you're fighting the fall line – resisting something you sense God calling you toward. Ask yourself: why am I fighting this? What am I afraid of? Then commit to following the fall line. Trust the natural path. See what happens when you work with God's will instead of against it.

Reflection Question: Are you fighting against God's purpose (trying to zigzag across the mountain) or are you trusting the fall line of His calling and allowing Him to guide you down the natural path?