I am pretty good at learning things with my mind. It takes me a little longer to learn them with my heart. I've always had a pretty good mental grasp on the idea that I am weak and God is strong. God can do a lot of things that I can't. He has a lot of power, goodness, and wisdom that I don't. He created and rules the universe. I did not and do not. He is holy. I am not. It is pretty obvious that God is strong, and in comparison I am infinitely weak. I can't change the weather, let alone bring the dead to life, yet somehow, deep in my heart, I still think that I am strong. As if any goodness or strength I posses, I earned or made for myself! Everything, down to each thought and every strand of hair on my head is a direct result of the grace of God.
Today, God made me highly aware of my weakness. First, there was a problem in a friendship and I was determined to make it right. I soon discovered that righting it was utterly out of my power. Then, I tried to run and a chronic knee problem flared up, forcing me to stop. I didn't even have power over the health of my own body! Later, I had a conversation about a family conflict and, once again, I was helpless to fix it. There must have been six or seven situations throughout the day highlighting my weaknesses, but dense as I am I didn't notice and only grew continually more frustrated as the day went on. Finally, God brought me to a breaking point. As I swam (since I couldn't run), brooding over the circumstances of the day, a thought interjected.
I am weak.
An epiphany? yes, for my heart was, perhaps for the first time in a while, fully aware of the truth of that statement. I was weak, powerless to change my situations, to help anyone, to heal myself. A verse I had read this morning in Psalm 62 popped into my mind.
"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love."
God is strong. God is loving. Truth. I am weak, but I am not alone. God in his overwhelming love, has given me his Spirit, and He is my fortress. In my weakness, He is strong. I cannot change my circumstances, save others, sanctify myself, but God can, and He is. He is bringing His Kingdom in our hearts and our world and has given us overcoming power by His Spirit.
Today, I can confidently proclaim, in the midst of my weakness, the words of Nehemiah, "The joy of the Lord is my strength."
Today, God made me highly aware of my weakness. First, there was a problem in a friendship and I was determined to make it right. I soon discovered that righting it was utterly out of my power. Then, I tried to run and a chronic knee problem flared up, forcing me to stop. I didn't even have power over the health of my own body! Later, I had a conversation about a family conflict and, once again, I was helpless to fix it. There must have been six or seven situations throughout the day highlighting my weaknesses, but dense as I am I didn't notice and only grew continually more frustrated as the day went on. Finally, God brought me to a breaking point. As I swam (since I couldn't run), brooding over the circumstances of the day, a thought interjected.
I am weak.
An epiphany? yes, for my heart was, perhaps for the first time in a while, fully aware of the truth of that statement. I was weak, powerless to change my situations, to help anyone, to heal myself. A verse I had read this morning in Psalm 62 popped into my mind.
"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken
On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us...
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us...
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love."
God is strong. God is loving. Truth. I am weak, but I am not alone. God in his overwhelming love, has given me his Spirit, and He is my fortress. In my weakness, He is strong. I cannot change my circumstances, save others, sanctify myself, but God can, and He is. He is bringing His Kingdom in our hearts and our world and has given us overcoming power by His Spirit.
Today, I can confidently proclaim, in the midst of my weakness, the words of Nehemiah, "The joy of the Lord is my strength."
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