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Weakness I find that the weaknesses of my flesh become more evident the further I walk down this road. When I say flesh, I don't just mean my physical body but both my body and my soul. We are created spirit, soul, and body (1 Thes. 5:23), and my body and soul must constantly be dealt with as I live in this world. These are what make us human. Dealing with our human condition can be a challenge. The weeks keep rolling by, and as my schedule keeps getting busier I am finding it more difficult to get enough physical rest. As a result, physical and mental exhaustion have kept me on the verge of collapse. I have even found myself fighting sleep during a recent counseling session. I can only imagine what this person would have felt if I had actually drifted off to sleep as she shared some of her deepest struggles. Would she would have been comforted by the love of Christ as it poured out through my snoring?! I praise God that He gave me the strength to stay awake in spite of my fatigue. My human condition was even more evident after another recent counseling session. I found myself battling a huge wave of negative emotions due to what the Lord had led me to share. The feelings hung over me like an ominous black cloud and I felt almost sick to my stomach because of them. I fully realized that the enemy was attempting drag me into defeat by hitting a weak point, but knowing this did not remove the feelings; it simply gave me freedom to judge them with the truth and press on in spite of them. God allowed what was working death in me to keep me dependent upon Him and safe from stealing His glory. It was how He could work through me to bring life to others. His desire is that I deny myself, take up my cross, and follow Him. God told the Apostle Paul that His grace is sufficient, for power is made perfect in weakness. It is only by walking through our own inadequacies and deficiencies that we can ever discover the adequacy and sufficiency of Jesus. Does this mean that God wants us to be work-a-holic believers who burn ourselves out in service to Him just so we are safe vessels? Certainly not! But there are times when He allows us to push beyond what we think we can handle to remind us that His working in us, on us, and through us does not depend upon us; it depends totally upon Him. The next time you find yourself in a situation that seems a bit overwhelming, praise Him! He is reminding you that apart from Him you cannot do anything! Article # - LCMI – 2004-185: 4/07/2004 |
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