In the 1800s, an acrobat named Blondin (Jean-Francois Gravlet) became famous for crossing Niagara Falls by tightrope many times, usually with no safety net.
One day a crowd gathered at the falls to watch his most dangerous attempt yet. He planned to push a wheelbarrow loaded with a heavy sack of cement across the tightrope.
With that extra weight, the slightest miscalculation could tip the wheelbarrow and twist him off the wire, plunging him to death 160 feet below in the raging waters.
Thousands watched breathlessly as he made his way across, placing one foot carefully in front of the other, quietly pushing the wheelbarrow across the spray-filled chasm, oblivious to the roar of the water beneath him.
When he made it to the other side, the throng let out its collective breath and cheered. What a feat!
After his crossing, Blondin challenged a nearby reporter: “Do you believe I can do anything on a tightrope?”
“Oh yes, Mr. Blondin,” said the reporter, “after what I’ve seen today, I believe it. You can do anything.”
“Do you believe, then,” said Blondin, “that instead of a sack of cement, I could put a man in this wheelbarrow—a man who has never been on a tightrope before–and wheel him, without a net, safely over to the other side?”
“Oh yes sir, Mr. Blondin,” said the reporter, “I believe it.”
“Good,” said Blondin. “Get in.”
The reporter paled and quickly disappeared into the crowd.
It’s one thing to believe something, but quite another to have that kind of faith in someone.
However, one person that day did have that kind of faith in Blondin. This brave volunteer agreed to get into the wheelbarrow and cross the falls with the master acrobat.
As Blondin tipped out the bag of cement and placed his passenger in the barrow, men on both sides of the falls quickly placed bets on the outcome.
Then as the crowd cheered, Blondin made his way back across the falls, this time pushing a nervous passenger ahead of him.
It looked like another easy conquest for the daredevil. But when they were halfway across the 1,600-foot rope, a man with a heavy bet against them crept over and cut one of the guy wires.
Suddenly, the tightrope pitched crazily back and forth, the force of the whipping motion gaining in intensity.
As Blondin fought to keep his balance, he knew that they were seconds away from death. When the rim of the wheelbarrow came off the wire, they would both be pitched headlong into the churning waters.
Blondin spoke, cutting through the terror of his passenger in the wheelbarrow.
“Stand up!” he commanded. “Stand up and grab my shoulders!”
The man sat there paralyzed.
“Let go and stand up! Let go of the wheelbarrow! Do it or die!”
Somehow the man managed to stand up and step out of the swaying wheelbarrow.
“Your arms … put them round my neck! Now, your legs … round my waist!” said Blondin.
Again the man obeyed, clinging to Blondin.
The empty wheelbarrow fell, disappearing into the frothy turmoil far below.
The aerialist stood there, using all his years of experience and every trained muscle to stay on the wire until the pitching subsided a little. Then inch by inch, he made his way across, carrying the man like a child. Finally, he deposited him on the other side.
Living a life of faith is like walking on a tightrope
It is fairly easy to say we believe in God but are we willing to have Him carry us across a tightrope, high above a roar of water?
“Yet he [Abraham]did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.” Romans 4:21-22
Are you fully persuaded that God has the power to do what He has promised?
Trusting God is more than just believing that what He says is true; it is acting accordingly!
I think most of us, if not all us, have the first part of that equation figured out but I would say that the majority of us have a very hard time with the second part of the equation.
We need to act upon the promises of God and not just passively believe them.
Take up the challenge! Step out in faith with Him! Trust Him!
Who are you more like, the reporter who said he believed but didn’t follow through on that belief or the man who got into the wheelbarrow?
***** Recommended reading: If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat
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I'm like the reporter sort of. I have trusted God to provide for me in Germany but I know there are other areas where my trust is not as great.
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I've been both for sure. I have heard that story before, but I had never heard all the details. Very powerful.
Interesting how we can get angry at God that the proverbial wheelbarrow fell and scared us while He's carrying us to safety. Love that picture. Thank you, Kevin.
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This makes me cry because I have been like that. Saying I believe Him, telling Him I trust Him but when that time came to prove it i ran away. But I'm so grateful He knows our heart and fears. I did go back every time and I'm stronger now.
I agree with Jason by the way about getting angry with God while He carries us.
I love a great Story to illustrate the need to put unwavering Trust in another to Save Yourself. Thank you for sharing.
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I am definitely the same. I am learning (slowly) to get in the wheelbarrow more.
Thanks for sharing David!
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Great points Jason!
Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for sharing Ani! It is good to see you back!
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Thanks Jeremiah!
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Hi Kevin,
This is a very nice story. It is really true that there is a fine line between believing in Him and trusting Him. Thanks for sharing!
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Yes there is Felicia!
Thanks for sharing!
I think I’ve been both at times. I am scared of heights so the thought of walking across Niagara Falls causes me to go into a cold sweat. But I believe God’s Word. I know He is faithful. I can count on His faithfulness but my flesh gets in the way all too often.
Such wonderful insight from this story to apply to faith and believing God. So glad I stopped by from Bonnie’s today.
Blessings,
Debbie
Thanks for stopping by and sharing Debbie!
I have heard this story several times and it was related to just putting your faith in Christ. But you convicted me in that I know how God is leading me right now but am having trouble getting the nerve to really step out and pursue that calling. A bit of faith involved as well as fear of failure and feelings of inadequacy. If I really believe God is calling me to this ministry, I need to step out and act like it. Thank you
The stepping out part is always the toughest! This is where our beliefs become reality.
This is an area that I struggle with on a regular basis. I am slowly learning to not allow my fears to stop me from stepping out with God.
Thanks for sharing Shanda!
I have not ever heard this story. Thank you Kevin. Makes my faith look as small as mustard seed, but I’m blessed to know that all He requires.. He can grow faith from that tiny offering.
He definitely can Karin!
Thanks for sharing!
That’s an amazing story! What happened to the man who cut the wire? I hope he was held accountable.
I am not sure what happened to the man who cut the wire. I am guessing he was held accountable.
Thanks for sharing Nikole!
“Trusting God is more than just believing that what He says is true; it is acting accordingly!”
I think both are true for me. The wonderful thing about grace is that God still waits for me when I’m like the reporter!
It’s never too late to step out in faith.
Thanks for sharing this in the jam a couple weeks ago. As you can see from the comments, you’ve really hit a chord, Kevin!
Thanks Bonnie!
this is really an amazing illustration of our faith to God. honestly,after I read this story I have a big question mark on my faith. coz sumtimes i become the reporter and also the other man. Though sometimes I’m not sure what will happen to me if I go to that way or that way I just pray to God and I know that He encourages me to just trust Him, whatever happens God is always by my side
Stepping out in faith with God is always a challenge to some degree. If it wasn’t then it wouldn’t be stepping out in faith.
Thanks for sharing Denise!
I’d never heard the full story of this event. Thanks for sharing that!
Rather than the life of faith being like walking a tightrope, it’s probably (as you illustrated) more like being willing to be carried across by Someone who can get me to the other side. The more I try to do, the more I interfere with that, the more likely I am to be in danger. The more I rest in Him, (and this has proven true time after time) the safer I am and the more miracles I see – in the midst of the roar of the waterfall.
Amen Judy! Great thoughts!
Thanks for sharing.
Kevin: Which is not a good thing, yes?
What is not a good thing Peter? I am not understanding what you are referring to.
I thought the “a lie that is believed as truth will affect you as if it is true” was part of your response, and was trying see how it fit it into the rest of your comment.
Ahhh … I see what you are referring to now.
No, lies believed as truth are NOT a good thing.
You realize that it’s not a true story, yes? Blondin never pushed a human across in a wheelbarrow. He did carry his manager on his back. If a parable is told, it should be identified as such. Faking a story as a metaphor for faith diminishes all aspects.