“’You will not succeed by your own strength or by your own power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD All-Powerful.” (Zechariah 4:6 NCV)
Our tendency, even as a believer, when we’re confronted with a major obstacle such as an illness, financial setback, relational or other type of problem is to ask the wrong question. Too often our question becomes: “Okay, how am I going to get through this? What am I going to do about this issue?”
When difficulties arise, we often get stuck because nothing we can come up with gives the answer we need, too often it only compounds the problem. Why is that? Largely because human understanding pales in comparison with the creativity and ingenuity of almighty God.
It took a long time for me to learn to turn immediately to the Lord, regardless of the proverbial “size” of the problem. Painting the ceiling, trimming a plant or tree, or dealing with the diagnosis that I have Alzheimer’s, all of them drove me to the feet of my Savior. Why? Because the scope of the problem isn’t the issue, dependence upon the Lord for every detail of my life is.
We get stuck when we depend on ourselves rather than the Lord, but that doesn’t mean we’re not involved in the process. My wife is a retired nurse and her “ex” is a Neurosurgeon who married another doctor who between them have decades of insight and wisdom. And you might say, “Wow, lucky you!” But don’t you see it has nothing to do with me, except that I’m God’s child.
There are no coincidences in God’s strategy. He put those resources in place before the beginning of time, not just for us, but for the hundreds, possibly thousands of people whose lives those two doctors have touched in their careers.
We tend to believe that having a relationship with Jesus is a “spiritual decision,” which of course it is, but it’s so very much more than that. We can take anything to the Lord, not because we’re imbeciles, but because He cares enough to be invested in every detail of our lives. So much so, even the hairs of our head are numbered (see Matthew 10:30).
Should we be concerned about our future? Of course! Am I concerned about what my future could look like? Yes, of course, but I also know that my future is in the Lord’s capable hands, and while my mind may fade to the point I don’t recognize anyone or even know who I am, my spirit will rest in knowing my Savior will never forget who I am.
It’s seasons like this that cause me to rejoice that I am not alone, nor will I ever be. I love the hymn whose second verse says: “When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ the solid Rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand” (The Solid Rock).
Dear friend, please yield your life and allegiance to Jesus. Don’t waste time or energy blaming God for something He didn’t do. He didn’t give me Alzheimer’s and He hasn’t put you in the scenario in which you find yourself today. Allow Him to change your life, get you unstuck, and fill you with hope and wholeness you’ll find in no other way. Put your full trust in Him and rejoice in the fact that nothing you will ever face in this life can compare to an eternity of bliss with the only One who loves you enough to die for you.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 