June 27, 2012
My eleven-year-old daughter, GiGi, is learning to skateboard. She is just starting and her basic techniques and skills are weak, so she keeps falling. Now GiGi is not a touchy feely kid and she is at that stage when it’s awkward for a guy to touch her or to get a kiss from dad. When I went to watch her on the third day of skateboard camp she was allowing the male instructor to hold her hands and guide her down a high ramp. I was so proud of her great progress and her openness to go out of her comfort zone to get better at life.
In spite of her minimal skills, but because of her enthusiasm and motivation to grow, she was open, actually very excited to go to camp and expose her weaknesses to other campers and submit to the instruction of expert camp counselors. By the end of the week, after lots of sweat, bruises, lumps and falls, she was going down high ramps and on the brink of landing the difficult “drop in”!
God’s Word tells us that when we are at our weakest, He is at His strongest. We pray for and expect strength in times of weakness … and if we are truly open to it and looking in the right place, God delivers His healing power.
I remember going through a period of extreme weakness and lame decisions. It didn’t feel good; no one wants to be there. However, that time of weakness was when I was the most open to God’s healing and authority. I was willing to go out of my comfort zone, grab God’s hand, and accept my weakness (but not my behavior) as a gift. It was a great opportunity because it created the need and opportunity to experience the beauty of living in total dependence on God.
What is your area of weakness? What situations give you the most fear or worry? We all blink to protect our eyes from damage or pain, or ease existing pain. Can you identify a blink of yours that is really self-destructive rather than self-protective? We need to be motivated and excited to change. Don’t blink and cover-up. Reach out to God and others for help and guidance. Next comes the most important decision: following His guidance and the Godly guidance of others, like GiGi did.
Today, trust God to grow and comfort you in your weak areas before you reflexively do something harmful. Examine areas of struggle or wrong decisions you make. These are prime areas in which God’s strength can shine. Will you humble yourself and admit that self-instruction isn’t enough? Practice self-control today when you are uncomfortable. Think before you react. GiGi is doing more tricks and rarely falls. She really enjoys ‘boarding and loves her counselor. You, too, can experience success in your weak area with your perfect Counselor, God. WITHIN REACH helps you identify why you follow your own instruction instead of God’s. Whether you humble yourself to God or others is your decision, so choose well.
Prayer
Dear Father, I am learning to recognize my weaknesses. Acknowledging and accepting them keeps me looking to You. You are my strength. As I witness Your presence within those around me, I am learning that abundant life is more than just wealth. Abundant life is living in continual dependence on You. Instead of trying to fit my day into a preconceived idea of what it should be, I am learning to relax and to be constantly on the lookout for what You are doing within me and those around me. This approach frees me to enjoy You and to find out what plan You have for me today. This works so much better than trying to make everything work according to my own plan. I pray this in the name of my Rock and Counselor, Jesus Christ; and all God’s children say – AMEN!
The Truth
I can do everything through him who gives me strength … And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:13 and 19
And Asa cried to the LORD his God, “O LORD, there is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us, O LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this multitude. O LORD, you are our God; let not man prevail against you.” 2 Chronicles 14:11
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 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