God has been showing me scriptures that match so perfectly with what I need to hear. Bible stories have been guiding me with a next step, or comforting me in the midst of confusion, or strengthening me by reminding me that everything will be okay.
I’ve desperately needed guidance because of facing challenges that feel bigger than anything I can handle.
1 Chronicles 5:18-22 MSG is a passage that has encouraged me; “The families of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 men trained for war—physically fit and skilled in handling shield, sword, and bow. They fought against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. God helped them as they fought. God handed the Hagrites and all their allies over to them, because they cried out to him during the battle. God answered their prayers because they trusted him. They plundered the Hagrite herds and flocks: 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep, and 2,000 donkeys. They also captured 100,000 people. Many were killed, because the battle was God’s. They lived in that country until the exile.”
God helped them as they fought. They experienced victory because they humbly cried out to God. They came to the end of themselves, truly realizing they couldn’t do it alone and therefore trusted God to do it. The battle was God’s to win.
Hebrews 3:1-6a MSG reminded me that just because the challenge is bigger than what I can handle, doesn’t mean I’m not strong; “So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He’s the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God’s house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house. Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we’re the house!”
Moses was honorable and faithful (to leading the Israelites out of Egypt) and the tribe of Manasseh was highly skilled and trained for war. Even though both examples have strong individuals with an impressive resume, they both weren’t qualified for the challenge bigger than themselves. It’s only in submitting to the truth, that “Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God”, that they experienced victory.
Continuing in Hebrews 3:6b-11 MSG, “…That’s why the Holy Spirit says,
Today, please listen;
don’t turn a deaf ear as in “the bitter uprising,”
that time of wilderness testing!
Even though they watched me at work for forty years,
your ancestors refused to let me do it my way;
over and over they tried my patience.
And I was provoked, oh, so provoked!
I said, “They’ll never keep their minds on God;
they refuse to walk down my road.”
Exasperated, I vowed,
“They’ll never get where they’re going,
never be able to sit down and rest.”
When we’re called to something bigger than ourselves, we’ll be brought to continually surrendering to ourselves and instead letting God do it his way. When we’re feeling weak in the wilderness, remember that God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called. With God’s leadership, we’ll get to where we’re going, experience victory, life, and be able to sit down and rest.
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