Recently, I got really hung up on the line “. . . they are weak, but He is strong. . .” I could NOT get it out of my head. This is just one of the little rhymes that we teach our kids in order to instill in them the basic truths of God and the Bible. We sing songs, tell them short stories, and they grow up with these rhymes embedded in their youth. For some of you, this is true of your own childhood.
Yet somehow, as we get older, these lyrical words of wisdom wind up becoming just “an old song I learned growing up.” Those basic, foundational truths seem to lose their purpose, and we tend to detach from the very simple, yet very profound, meaning behind those words.
See, God has been whispering to me for over two years now that He wants me to get up early to spend time with Him, and to spend time taking care of myself. I have so wanted to do this, but truth be told, I am a major night owl. I love my evenings with my man, and I am terrible at getting up. So, for over two years, I just pretended His polite whispers were me talking to myself. I would give it a shot here and there, but nothing ever stuck.
Despite my super lame efforts, this urge kept gnawing at me until I finally chose to step out in obedience and faith. I finally tried my very best to get up. No, I didn’t WANT to get up… however, rather than falling back into MY way of doing things, I simply started asking Him to give me the willpower to get up. The conversations I had with myself before 5am could’ve been made into a Broadway play. I had every excuse in the book to stay in my cozy bed. BUT, the minute I stepped out in obedience, and then came to Him for help–He was there!
He gave me what I needed, and my butt made it (is making it) to 5am workouts and/or simple REST time with Him. Here’s the deal . . . well, my deal, at least: God wants to see us step out in faith. But sometimes, asking God IS acting on your faith!
Simply admitting our weakness to Him, and asking Him to fill the void, IS our act of faith. As soon as we do this, we are showing Him that we trust Him, that we believe His Word, and that we can’t do it all without Him. He wants to help us! He’s like that helicopter parent that can’t let go of her kid (except much quieter, and less psycho). He is just yearning for us to turn to Him!
So began my morning “thankful walk” into work, and I had the realization of God’s faithfulness to me. I knew what He had been placing on my heart all these years, and I knew that my obedience in this area would cause a breakthrough in my life. God promises to be there for us when we can’t find the strength… so I admitted, and then I asked… I acted, and He answered.
When I am weak, He is strong. Simple words that I’ve spoken all my life, suddenly held new, powerful meaning.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
I am currently a writer, teacher, mom, wife, and super pumped member of a crazy, but loving blended family. I began my blog “Shaken Together & Running Over” to inspire women and help them simplify their everyday lives. My prayer is that the transparency in my writing will inspire people to seek God and know that He loves them, flaws and all!
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