- poor
health
- poor
habits
- the
problems from our past
- the
obstacles before us
- someone
else's failure... or our own
- the
never-ending needs
I'm
sure you could add more to the list. But looking at the obstacles
just weakens us more. Optimism, determination, denial all may work
for the short run. But if we aren't facing the real need, then we
will never have real strength. And the reality is that we don't have
what it takes – no matter how much will power or positive thinking
we exert.
Recent
reports from the ministry in Makindu remind us that we all face the
same need. Brother Lawrence has faced weakening illness, discouraging
failures of others, continuing crises and calls for help... all
demanding more need of strength. Yes, we want to solve the problems
and see real success. But the reality is that we don't have enough
power or resources.
I'm
so thankful for another reality that gives us reason to hope: “...but
the people that do know their God shall be strong” (Daniel 11:32).
Did you catch the significant “know” in there? We usually know
quite a bit about our troubles. We have learned ways to deal with
them – and we know where our limits are. But these things don't
make us strong. They just inform us about our weakness.
Do
you know the God that is strong? Do you know Him as your God?
This is the key after all. When I feel a need of strength to face my
day, my problems, my impossibilities, do I look to God as my answer?
Do I know Him as my answer? Someone has said, “He will be God of
all, or not at all” and there is some truth to that. Especially
when it comes to us experiencing His power.
God
shows His might in the daily sunrise, in the enduring mountains, in
the crashing waves. At a personal level, we live and breathe at His
command. But to know Him as our God, as the Almighty Answer for
today's problems and needs, we must get more involved than that. We
must personally turn from all other solutions. We must stop worrying
and reasoning. We must be still and know He is God. The All Powerful.
The I AM. The All Knowing. The Everlasting Father. The Prince of
Peace. The Lord of Life and Light. For me. For you.
“And
therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you; and
therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy upon you. For
the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for
Him.” (Isaiah 30:18)
