When the Burj Khalifa tower in Dubai opened, I admit to having thought how cool it would be to go to the top of it. The observation deck sits 124 stories and 2717 feet above the ground. The Burj Khalifa is now the tallest building in the world. Apparently, a good number of tourists share my fascination. However, a little over a month after opening to the public, 15 people got an experience of a lifetime. They were stranded in the elevator for 45 minutes due to what has been speculated to be electrical problems. Those stuck in the lift spoke of hearing a small explosion. Tower staff dropped a ladder into the shaft and helped them climb back onto the observation deck (information gleaned from www.thetimesonline.uk/) .

Acrophobia, the fear of heights, can cause your heart to race, your breathing to get heavy, profuse sweating, and claustrophobic feelings. You can feel trapped. But, even if you don’t suffer from acrophobia, you would have been a bit nervous dangling nearly 3000 feet above the ground in a wounded elevator.

Do you ever feel that loss of control and helplessness in circumstances of your own life? You might not trade places with those stranded Dubai tourists, but maybe you can relate to how they must have felt. Maybe you feel hung out to dry, stranded, and alone. You may wonder where God is in the midst of your hurt. You desire rescue, but you are unsure whether help will arrive. If you hung onto your faith through those trials, you know the relief that follows your elevated troubles. What can you do when your troubles are elevated?

Pray! Talk to God about your fears and worries. Trust in God’s providence. Make a plan of action. Seek aid from resources that can help you relieve the issue (whether books, professionals, friends, etc.). Find someone to serve.

Research passages of scripture that relate to our troubles. Quit behaviors or habits that contribute to the troubles.

Find the peace that comes in depending on God’s help and fight worry. Those suggestions are not a panacea or cure-all. They can, however, work like that ladder thrown to those stranded riders. Once back on the deck where all is much clearer, relief can return. Sometimes it simply requires taking some needed steps. I hope you are never stuck in a situation like those poor souls in Dubai, but you will meet trouble. Make us of all that God gives to help in times of trouble and enjoy the rescue He provides.

-Neal Pollard