Leaning on a Crutch, Faith in God

Hebrews 11:21 says, "By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff." This verse, though simple in statement, carries a profound truth about faith and dependence on God.

As a child, I remember someone dismissing my faith as merely a "crutch." At the time, I was offended. My pride bristled at the thought that my faith was seen as something weak, something to lean on only when I couldn't stand on my own. But as life progressed and I encountered difficulties, pressures, and fears, I came to understand that I had, in fact, relied on many things as crutches.

Music became a comfort in my fears. As a child afraid of the dark, I would sing myself to sleep with "I Love You, Lord." In times of stress, I turned to songs like "Put One Foot in Front of the Other" or the simple encouragement from Finding Nemo, "Just keep swimming." Other people turn to popular music or distractions to cope, but for me, the one thing that became my ultimate support was the Word of God.

I sought scripture for strength, for direction, for encouragement. I would write it out, recite it, and place it before my eyes each morning. In moments of overwhelming stress, I would even shout scripture aloud in defiance of the enemy’s attempts to shake my faith. Scripture was my anchor when I was stumbling, my staff when I was weak, my stability when I felt like falling.

Jacob, too, leaned on something. His staff was more than just a walking aid; it was a reminder of his lifelong journey with God. He had wrestled with the Lord one night, a night that changed him forever. God touched his hip, leaving him with a limp—a constant, physical reminder of his dependence on God. That limp stayed with him as he navigated years of hardship, loss, and reunion. He had lost and mourned his son Joseph for over twenty years, endured famine, and finally left his promised land to live out his days in Egypt. Yet, through it all, he leaned on his staff, and more importantly, on God.

When Hebrews 11:21 tells us that Jacob worshipped while leaning on his staff, it wasn't a song, it was a way of living. It was a testament to a lifetime of faith. Jacob was acknowledging, in his final moments, that it was never his own strength that carried him but the Lord's.

Faith itself is a form of leaning. We are called not to lean on our own understanding but to trust in the Lord with all our hearts (Proverbs 3:5-6). When we lean on God, it may not always be graceful. We may limp, we may struggle, but we will move forward. Our "crutch" is not a sign of weakness, but of worship. It is our way of saying, "Lord, I trust You more than I trust myself."

What are you leaning on today? If it is the Word of God, then you are leaning on something that will never fail you. Like Jacob, worship as you lean, for faith is found not in standing strong on our own, but in holding onto the One who sustains us through every step of the journey.