Years ago, during a very arduous trial while I was ministering to a loved one, I remember crying out to the Lord, “How much more and how much farther?” The weight was overwhelming, and the emotional and spiritual demands were deeper than I could bear.
In that moment, I had a vivid picture from the Holy Spirit. I saw myself standing in a pond of water, with the water to my chin. I felt the tension of trying to keep my footing and not going under. And then, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Go farther, until you are completely submerged. My grace and power are enough.”
At first, I thought, “Are you serious, Lord? Completely surrendered and submerged?” But what I understood was that it was never in my own strength; Christ was going to carry me, work through me, and give me the help, direction, and strength that I desperately needed.
God’s power shines brightest against the backdrop of human weakness. When we reach the end of ourselves, we discover the Lord’s sufficiency. Weakness does not disqualify us; it is an invitation for Christ’s power to “rest upon us” and cover us with his presence as our shelter. When we are weak, the Lord is strong, and where we are empty, he fills us and sustains us. God’s grace is given to all those who are his children and who belong to him. God does not hurry past or remove weakness to display his power. He inhabits it and invites us in to reveal it.
The late Charles Spurgeon once stated, “God does not need your strength. He has more than enough power on His own. He asks for your weakness; He has none of that Himself, and He is longing, therefore, to take your weakness and use it as an instrument in His own mighty hand.”
We have all felt inadequate, stretched thin, or burdened by a task that we feel we cannot successfully complete. The answer may not be the removal of that burden, but rather God’s power in us that helps us. Today, walk with the lightness, purpose, and joy of being a child of God who has accepted the unconditional love and grace of Jesus Christ. Lean into his grace, realizing that you do not have to be strong enough; his power is made perfect in your weakness.
Lord, I do not take for granted your sufficient grace that covers my weaknesses. It is by your strength that I am able to abound in good works to serve you and others. Help me to remember that your grace is completely sufficient for all my needs and weaknesses. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Throughout this day: listen to “Oceans” by Hillsong United
Photo Credit: YiChuan Li on Unsplash