Make a muscle in your arm. Come on, let’s see how strong your arm is. OK, now tell me, is your arm ever going to be as strong as your whole body? Ever? Even the kids in my karate class acknowledge that the body is stronger than just the arm by itself. So I try to teach them to punch with their whole body, not just with the strength of their arm.
I am beginning to realize the Christian life is like that. I try to do this life in my own strength, and
I realize I have none. In fact, I seem
to have nothing but weaknesses and faults.
I beg and plead for God to take away my weaknesses and my faults but He
doesn’t. He doesn’t take away my
problems or my pains either. I can
easily descend into despair at this point.
But then I read Paul.
2
Corinthians 12:7-10
So to keep
me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the
revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass
me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave
me. But He said to me, “My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of
my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content
with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Even though my karate students, kids and adults alike,
acknowledge that the body is stronger than the arm, they continue to punch with
just their arms. I remind them over and
over and over, and they still punch with just the arm. And even though I acknowledge that God is
stronger than I will ever be, I still try to live my life in my own strength
rather than His. Fortunately, He reminds
me over and over and over of His power, His grace, His love, His Sovereignty, Christ
in me, the work of the Holy Spirit.
Oh God, let me learn this lesson; be still and wait on You.
©Rebecca A Givens, 02/14/15
