“He gets all the glory when we can’t and He does.”
Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – February 20, 2024
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
For most of my life, I’ve been a figure-it-outer. Even when I was a tender 13-year-old, one of my school mates nicknamed me “The Little Philosopher.” Although there are many situations in life that can be figured out through knowledge, there are some things we simply can’t figure out on our own.
Although these times are unpleasant and we don’t like to be out of control, the Lord loves it when His children lean on Him in holy desperation. Often, it’s only then we understand that it’s “not by our own might and not by power” (Zechariah 4:6) that we can make it through our deepest trials. It’s then that God shines the most brightly because He gets all the glory when we can’t and He does.
Before I married in 2014 when I was 46 years old, I experienced times of disappointment that I hadn’t said “I do” earlier, even though it was my deepest heart’s desire. I can’t count the number of times I asked the Lord to provide a godly mate for me. I had an ache in my heart to be tied to another for life. I wanted to know what it meant to love and be loved, and I was often lonely. When I finally met my husband, I was taken by his genuine care for me and care for others, among other things. He unselfishly served me well—and still does. But there was one thing about him that I wrestled with. . . he had five grown children. I had adamantly determined years before that I would never become a part of a blended family. To me, I felt it would mean that I would be a leftover in a family no one except my husband would want. But the Lord did an amazing thing. Through prayer, time, and guidance from others, He led me to say “I do” to my husband. This was a situation I couldn’t figure out. But of course, God knew what He was doing. So, in faith I said yes.
Through marriage to Clark, I have witnessed God’s glory in ways I wouldn’t have if I had gotten my perfect, white, picket-fence life. I have been enlarged on the inside. I have grown in learning how to love—and I have seen the Lord work on my behalf and the behalf of those in my new family in ways I couldn’t have imagined. Over the years, He has blended our family and blended our hearts. He has done miracles in a situation I couldn’t figure out. And, just about every day, I am thankful for the Lord’s gift of marriage. I am grateful that I have a new family to love—and grandchildren too!
When we can’t figure things out on our own, that’s when our cloak of self-sufficiency can be stripped away, and we can wear His mantle of joy. When we allow Him to take our problems and even our ideas of what we believe our life should be, our burdens are lifted, and we can closely feel our Savior’s love. And, that’s when Jesus gets all the glory!
My growing desire is that I always turn to Jesus, not just when I can’t figure something out, not just when I run out of my own good ideas, advice from others or Google, or instructive YouTube videos. I want to live in constant communion with the Savior who loves me and seek answers from Him first.
Will you join me in relying on Jesus for your life’s direction? Will you talk with Him about your struggles? Will you invite Him into your day and maintain a continual conversation with Him? Will you ask Him what you need to do before you try to figure it out on your own? Will you lay down your ideas of what you believe your life should be like and trust Him for guidance?
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday” (Psalm 37:5-6).
Prayer
Lord, my tendency is to lean on myself for answers. But you want to help me. Help me to ask you for help first and patiently wait on you for answers. Amen.
Application
What problems are you facing today? Turn to Jesus and ask Him for help first. Listen for His voice and see what He has to say.
Related Reading
John 15:4-5; Hebrews 3:7-8; Galatians 5:16-17
Worship Resource
Elevation Worship & Maverick City: Talking to Jesus
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