"If I fail to reaffirm my helplessness daily, then yesterday's victory will lead me to today's defeat."
- Steve Curington
This quote lives rent free in my brain, and has since I heard it almost 10 years ago. Today as I was researching for my devotional it popped into my brain once again. I think it is very easy to slip into the mindset that we are in control, that we have it all together, or that we can fight battles on our own…. little do we realize that’s where the enemy wants us.
We can quickly stumble down the hill when we think we can overcome obstacles in our own strength. We quickly trip ourselves up when we think we know all the scriptures we have put to memory and can recall them and think that we have the knowledge that prevents us from falling off the ledge….and yet we find ourselves shocked at how dangerously close we are to falling. So many of us have gone through rough seasons and challenges of life, that it makes us feel secure in our own strength and knowledge, but little do we know God has more lessons for us to learn, more trials to be tested with, more pressures of this world to endure…..we fail to see or understand our DAILY need of God’s strength, power, and abilities. We will fail. We will make mistakes. We will have moments that feel dark and heavy…. but it’s in the surrender of submitting to God, and trusting him within the lessons we must face, that we find exactly what God wants to show us—it’s God, and him alone, who will bring us through—not ourselves.
It is funny to think of all the people Jesus encountered who either didn’t get it, chose to ignore it or not believe, who witnessed miracle after miracle….and STILL they doubt….***cough—The disciples*** The disciples witnessed things we think are obvious, many of them we wish we could have seen ourselves, and still they failed to understand. They ask so many questions and make silly statements, and just when they think they understand…. well, they don’t, and you just want to grab them by the shoulders and yell at them. Jesus had so much love, compassion, and patience with them—and he still does with you and me.
As much as we see the obvious in the disciples, you and I do the same exact thing. We get hung up on things that miss the point, we lose our way sometimes in doubt and fear, and suddenly we get reminded that we have yet another lesson to learn. I wonder, what would a daily life of surrender look like? It may not necessarily be easier, but it certainly may make the darkness feel a little lighter.
In a full transparency moment, I am going through some heaviness myself right now…this time of year is always hard for me, but this year I am really struggling more so. It wasn’t until I was forced to sit and wrestle with all the thoughts that were overwhelming my brain, that I understood what I need. God, and his loving community. I thought I should just hide and figure it all out on my own… when has isolation ever solved anything? I put myself where the enemy wanted me, and it hurt. Thankfully God has placed such amazing Godly brothers and sisters in my life to encourage and help me. I know I will make it through, NOT BY MY STRENGTH…BUT GOD’S. I will leave you with the last verse in our devotional reading for today, because they have touched my heart and reminded me of God’s promise, and I hope it will encourage you, as it did me as I am learning yet another lesson…
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
- Steve Curington
This quote lives rent free in my brain, and has since I heard it almost 10 years ago. Today as I was researching for my devotional it popped into my brain once again. I think it is very easy to slip into the mindset that we are in control, that we have it all together, or that we can fight battles on our own…. little do we realize that’s where the enemy wants us.
We can quickly stumble down the hill when we think we can overcome obstacles in our own strength. We quickly trip ourselves up when we think we know all the scriptures we have put to memory and can recall them and think that we have the knowledge that prevents us from falling off the ledge….and yet we find ourselves shocked at how dangerously close we are to falling. So many of us have gone through rough seasons and challenges of life, that it makes us feel secure in our own strength and knowledge, but little do we know God has more lessons for us to learn, more trials to be tested with, more pressures of this world to endure…..we fail to see or understand our DAILY need of God’s strength, power, and abilities. We will fail. We will make mistakes. We will have moments that feel dark and heavy…. but it’s in the surrender of submitting to God, and trusting him within the lessons we must face, that we find exactly what God wants to show us—it’s God, and him alone, who will bring us through—not ourselves.
It is funny to think of all the people Jesus encountered who either didn’t get it, chose to ignore it or not believe, who witnessed miracle after miracle….and STILL they doubt….***cough—The disciples*** The disciples witnessed things we think are obvious, many of them we wish we could have seen ourselves, and still they failed to understand. They ask so many questions and make silly statements, and just when they think they understand…. well, they don’t, and you just want to grab them by the shoulders and yell at them. Jesus had so much love, compassion, and patience with them—and he still does with you and me.
As much as we see the obvious in the disciples, you and I do the same exact thing. We get hung up on things that miss the point, we lose our way sometimes in doubt and fear, and suddenly we get reminded that we have yet another lesson to learn. I wonder, what would a daily life of surrender look like? It may not necessarily be easier, but it certainly may make the darkness feel a little lighter.
In a full transparency moment, I am going through some heaviness myself right now…this time of year is always hard for me, but this year I am really struggling more so. It wasn’t until I was forced to sit and wrestle with all the thoughts that were overwhelming my brain, that I understood what I need. God, and his loving community. I thought I should just hide and figure it all out on my own… when has isolation ever solved anything? I put myself where the enemy wanted me, and it hurt. Thankfully God has placed such amazing Godly brothers and sisters in my life to encourage and help me. I know I will make it through, NOT BY MY STRENGTH…BUT GOD’S. I will leave you with the last verse in our devotional reading for today, because they have touched my heart and reminded me of God’s promise, and I hope it will encourage you, as it did me as I am learning yet another lesson…
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."