Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
How do you picture life?
Do you view it from above, seeing everything behind you, the mess you’re standing in, and the foggy distance?
Or do you see only what’s now? Literally what’s directly in front of your nose?
If you want to know what I think, I think we often see things in different ways.
Thoughtful times causes the past to look so precious, stretched out way behind our lovely selves.
Tough times can block our view of God’s faithfulness in the past, causing us to see only our frustrated present.
When you’re feeling great, the family is peaceful, and all your ducks are in a row, it’s easy to view your life from above: a casual observer of the wonderful space of time you currently sit.
Times of stress can cause our walls to almost cave inwards; as if life around us is defined as a literal wall.
Wall of what? Well, stuff, stress, noise, to do’s, or pure anxiety.
I’ve been stressed lately. Why? Well, life has plopped many large problems directly in my path. And I’ve grown weary of walking all the way around them. Or trying to move them.
But God reminded me today of something: when we are weak, He is strong.
When we are weak, when we have come to the absolute end of our everything, God will pour Himself into us again and again.
When we are done, He is not. In fact God is just getting started.
So if you are at the end, get excited, because God is ready to take over! If you’ll let Him, that is.
I know, we need to daily rely on His strength. And I do. You do. But I’m talking about more stress than normal. Like several big things all at once.
When that happens, it’s easy to become just plain tired. We keep going with God’s help, but our mind doesn’t completely give everything over to God. We don’t because there is just so much. We give God some, but apparantly not all.
Ever happened to you? Well, that was me. And now it’s not.
As I was praying, God showed me His strength over mine. And now I’ll show you.
Picture yourself sitting by a giant wall of water. It can be the ocean if you want.
As you reach up your hand, God grasps it, pulling you up.
He looks at you and waits for your words, “Ready.”
Together, you take a step. A giant step. As you step together, the water parts. Boom!
You take another step together and the water parts even more. As we step, I hear a loud Boom.
Before you know it, you’ve walked together a ways, all on dry land. Just like the Israelites.
Your problems and messes are next to you, but God has walked you through.
With His strength. With His peace. With even His joy.
Join me and keep your hand in His as you purposely place your problems, your joys, and your just right moments with God. He’s not going anywhere. But it’s your choice to go with Him. Or not.



Photos by Matt Hardy and hangjia xu on Unsplash


