Hanging on a cliff suggests a situation that is being seen as a ?cliff hanger?, that is, as one in which the ending is very uncertain. Hanging on a cliff would also suggest that your partner has the perception that he has set  himself up for a fall, that is, for a failing.

In your partners mind he seems to have the perception that if he calls or asks for help, help will be there. He sees that a path or course of action will be opened up for him, one that provides him with logical steps to be taken, or a method of procedure to follow.

Because of the seemingly magical way in which the path has appeared, the dream may also be suggesting that when asking for help he might also include asking the Lord for help.