Perfected Weakness

Don't you just love it when life throws a curve ball?  Such a ball can take may forms.  The car breaks down, an appliance needs replaced, an unexpected illness stops us in our tracks.  We feel the need to name and claim it in order to prove we believe God is in control.  We search high and low for knowledge needed to solve the problem all the while praying emphatically for God's deliverance and the enemies defeat.  Meanwhile we feel our strength slipping away into an abyss of anxiety, doubt or fear.  Without realizing it a choice presents itself do we muster up a false faith or let God's power be perfected in our weakness.  Hmm, oh what a choice!

I think the secret for making that choice lies in our ability to wait for the Lord.  I could quote chapters and verses that validate that statement, thereby stirring up a false form of faith.  Instead I want to weave together His written word into a word made flesh and dwell among us and learn a how to gain strength through waiting.

Impatient urgency dictates we muster up faith and be strong.  Important courage gently woos us to be still, know He is God and wait for the power of His spirit to strengthen the inner man.  His sufficient grace can then permeate our soul making way for us to yield our weaknesses over to the power that comes with the riches of His glory.  That doesn't mean that the circumstances that led us to such a need cease. But rather provide an opportunity to embrace the power that works within, the Holy Spirit.

In doing so we can then wrap our mind around the possibility that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  I recognize yes that I am weak but He is strong, it's not faith I have need of but strength.  False faith is not the same thing as being strong in the Lord and the strength of His might. Then the truth of say Ps 27:14 takes on personal meaning as I wait for the Lord, be strong and let my heart take courage.  I can say with confidence; Yes, I wait for the Lord; knowing strength will come from waiting.

The purpose for my weakness is so that I can be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience with joy.  My faith rests on the power of God for His sufficient grace lets me see that my strength lies in perfected weakness.

Mystery

I like a good mystery novel.  If I want to read pure fluff my go to is Janet Evanovich.  Something with a bit more substance, but not too much, I'll read David Baldacchi.  I'm always entertained and escape into another world for a few hours.  Rarely do I regret or think it was a waste of my time.  On our recent trip through the lower 48 states I enjoyed taking pictures of long straight stretches out the windshield.  Even though we knew our destination it was a mystery of what truly lay before us on our adventure.  This picture was approaching Death Valley, California.  There was an unique beauty we had not expected in such a desolate looking and sounding place.

Death is a mystery.  Christ gave His life to solve this ultimate mystery.  By faith we accept death will not be eternal but the means to eternity.  Because we have so little information to go on deaths path may appear as desolate as this road to Death Valley.  Not knowing what lies at the end of this road keeps many from attempting to solve this eternal mystery.  Or we assume it's not worth solving because the name is daunting.  After all a valley called death? Yet if we make that choice the beautiful mysterious adventure that awaits is well worth chosing 

Death's Valley.