I was reminded this morning of a quote from an article that I came across almost 20 yrs. ago. I was sharing with a brother a foundational truth that God has been repeatedly teaching me over the years, at various times and at progressively deeper levels. The truth is that in order for me to learn to live more genuinely by faith, to truly grow in my relationship with Him and service to Him, God has to push me beyond my present ability to understand, to respond, or to handle my life. No matter how long I live or how much I grow, I will always need to be personally and powerfully reminded of my absolute weakness if I am going to trust and experience more of God’s amazing power and presence in my life.
This process of being reminded of my absolute powerlessness does not become more pleasant with age. It seems to take more and feel even worse. I mean being reminded that you are in fact powerless without Him is one thing when you 16, or 26, or even 36, but being vividly reminded of this when you’re 56 has been in fact even more disconcerting, more desperate, more humiliating, and ultimately even more glorious.
So, back to that quote…I had read an article in a magazine titled, “We’re in God’s Hand”. It chronicles the personal diary of an older couple, lost in a blizzard in the mountains, as they face their last days on earth. It begins with some measure of hope for a rescue and ends with glorious acceptance, even joy in their home-going 18 days after being trapped in their car in the storm. Two days into their ordeal the woman wrote, “We have no idea what lies ahead…so here we are, completely and utterly in God’s hand!! What better place to be!!!” On March 6th she wrote, “This will be our seventh night here. The gas is all gone, so no more heat. We have eaten one little packet of jelly between us, Rolaids and Tic-Tacks. Quite a feast!” At the very end she wrote, “I can’t find the dome light—writing by glove compartment light. Dad went to the Lord at 7:30 this evening, March 18. It was so peaceful I didn’t even know he left. The last thing I heard him say was “Thank the Lord” I think I’ll be with him soon…So much to say and so little time. I can’t see. Bye. I love you.”
What a terrifying, humiliating, glorious, wonderful, and transforming place to be…in His hands. I know I always am and always will be, but God knows how often and how intensely I need to be reminded. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
See you Sunday, Lord willing.
In Him,
P. Tim