Is there something in your life right now that feels insurmountable? Do you feel abandoned and alone? Take heart, and pay extra close attention to how weakness won a war.
In Judges 7:12, we find Gideon preparing to lead the troops of Israel into a major battle . . . Their enemies—the Midianites, Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples—“had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore.”
Bad guys as thick as insects with camels as many as the grains of sand on the seashore! This was a battle that would not be easily won, at least not if it depended on the strength of Gideon and his men. So what did Gideon do? He allowed twenty-two thousand of his men to leave, which left him with just ten thousand. It’s a military strategy that the Pentagon won’t be considering any time soon!
I’d be the first to volunteer to join the group that was leaving, being the wimp that I am. Only the very brave remained, but God said Gideon still had too many men . . . and just like that, Gideon’s army shrank to three hundred. And just as the battle cry was about to sound!
“The three companies blew their trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, ‘A sword for the Lord and for Gideon!’ While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled” (vv. 20-21).
Because of God’s strength and power, Gideon and his armies beat an impossible enemy. But why didn’t God let them pummel them with 33,000? The answer is the best part of this story, in my opinion:
“The Lord said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead’” (vs. 2-3).
Is it possible that the battle you face today is a reminder that God is strong, you are not, and depending on Him is the only way to win the war? What are you dealing with right now that feels like a battle that cannot be won? Write it down. How is God using your circumstances to show you and others that He is big and strong, and that He is where you should turn for strength? Leave us a comment and tell us about it.
“For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Cor. 1:25).
Leave a Comment:
We love hearing from you, and will post your comment as long as it is appropriate, and is written in a tone that is encouraging, edifying, and loving to others. Even then, know that the following comments do not necessarily reflect the views of Revive Our Hearts.
Comments
on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 1:31 pm
I am at a work place where it is widely believed that as long as the person in charge, who doesn't appear to be going anywhere, is there I will never be promoted. For whatever reason she has decided I am not the person to promote. I have felt God' leading and peace at applying for two positions to be left disappointed and disheartened and want desperately to believe this is not so.
Second, I am battling an eating addiction that I have had since childhood, I am now 42, and need God to continue to help me and for me to submit to His total plans. I have a plan I just give into temptation and defeat too many times. But I do not want to quit. I need God to help me let go of my mistakes and continue on.
on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 1:36 pm
When I think of battles this quote comes into my head:
Frederick Buechner (The Sacred Journey)
"To do for yourself the best that you have it in you to do--to grit your teeth and clench your fists in order to survive the world at its harshest and worst--is, by that very act, to be unable to let something be done for you and in you that is more wonderful still. The trouble with steeling yourself against the harshness of reality is that the same steel that secures your life against being destroyed secures your life also against being opened up and transformed."
One of the dearest Sister's I know, shares this with many of her friends.
We are transformed by leaning on Him and truly relying on His goodness through battle.
Today when I thought I might not have enough strength right there on biblegateway.com the perfect scripture appeared, to give me the exact boost I needed!!
“When I thought, "My foot slips," your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” Psalm 94:18-19
on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 2:52 pm
Lately, I have acknowledged me sin to the Lord. I seem to confess it over and over again and feel like the victory is slow. That can only be because my mind has slowly deteriorated over time and needs to be renewed.
I also struggle with envy and jealousy in my girlfriend relationships. So long, insecurity.
Could you please pray that I would have victory in the name of Jesus? I have confessed my sin and I believe he is faithful and just and has forgiven my sins. Praise be to God!
on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 4:04 pm
I try to step back when I am feeling overwhelmed and ask "God, what are you trying to teach me?" This helps me a lot. And I can whole-heartedly say that without this experience I would not have the deep relationship with God that I have today, and I would not be able to give counsel to others going through a difficult time as I am able to now.
I have come to grips with the fact that the outcome may not ever be what I want it to be. And I have learned to be thankful that I am not in control. However, none of this seems to take away the grief or loss that I often feel about this storm. I am praying for guidance and wisdom in this area of my life. I am praying for help in not letting it consume me or my marriage.
Although it is hard... God's providence and love are so comforting to me, I feel blessed to know him as I do. And cannot imagine going through this without him in my life.
on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 4:32 pm
The comment on not being able to have a child: There is a family in our church that has blessed me so on this subject. She could not have a child at all, at first she was bitter & hurt, but then the Lord did a work in her & her husband. They started doing foster care. They have now adopted their fourth child through this ministry the Lord has allowed them to do.
The verses that come to mind are: Isaiah 54:1-3
"Sing, O barren, thous that didst not bear, break forth into singing, and cry aloud, that thous didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord. Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited."
I will pray the Lord have His will in your life. If the Lord's will is for you not to have children, He may have another plan for you. Be content in what He is doing. Don't ask "Why Me" instead ask "what now, Lord". He is an ever presence help in the time of need. I will pray the Lord would do a mighty fulfilling work in you and your husband's life.
The Lord is the ONLY ONE to help and direct in the RIGHT WAY.
on Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 11:42 pm
on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 1:10 am
I'll be praying.
I firmly believe we ALL have thoughts that scare us, because they're wretchedly sinful. My own mortify me, I feel physically ill sometimes, because of them. It's like I'm forever begging God to make my evil thought patterns relent, and for him to help me repent from this kind of thing. My thought life, is a nightmare, I'm dying (inside) to break free of. It's as though I am rotting from the inside out. The repressive relentlessness of my evil thoughts make me, close to, completely dysfunctional (well, at least in my book). I've learned over my lifespan, to keep this part of me nearly invisible to all.
///Most people think I'm one the happiest, most thoughtful, loving, women they know.///
Sure, it's very 'normal' to rethink the past, to wonder what 'might' have happened 'if'... but it's sinful, and it is also sinful to keep coming back to it. That's me judging me, not me, judging you... as, I am positive, that my thought life is a bazillion times worse than any person's on the planet. It's just not good to think of other men as 'what if they were my husband', I think God considers it adultery. Maybe I'm mistaken. I wish we were having tea together instead of me writing this, as I am worried some of what I write might come off as harsh when in fact my heart for your pain is very much in this.
Myself, I dated too much in my youth and find I often think over old relationships, 'missed out on' ones and the men that never wanted to let me go (a couple who still paralyze me with calls or letters, out of the blue). I've never been beautiful, but they will not let go. I said paralyze just then, because my thoughts, when these men try to contact me... have to begin battling all over. Sometimes just rage, at myself or them, that they won't stop, sometimes, pure misery that it's not yet over, sometimes it's; what if I had chosen them? Note that: I too, have never used face book. This contact from them, nearly always makes me shut down i.e.) stop wanting to take care of myself or others, quit wanting to communicate with ANYONE etc. Often wishing the Lord would just take me home because I'm sure I am fully useless, so why? Why do I have to keep on living. Will something change someday and I might be of use for His Kingdom or Glory?
My husband also, is wonderful. But there are a couple of BIG difficulties in our marriage that I nearly left him over. Then I realized that every man is as full of 'the flesh' as any other. Sinners saved by grace, still have major battles, some seem to do better than others, but I am no longer blinded by the grass is greener garbage the world sells. Every married couple deals with at least one or two VERY painful issues. God put me with this man, my husband. He is a blessing I never deserved so, I will, by the grace of God, focus on working on my own faults and try to gently help move him closer to his better qualities, by letting him know how much I appreciate those. If I can't overlook my husband's (very painful to me) sinful side, how dare I continue begging for help with my own. Again, this is me, looking at me, out loud (so to speak).
///So, Anon, you will be in my prayers.///
I felt strongly for you as I read your painful outpouring. <--that's an understatement. May God win this battle, for and through you, but most of all; so that the GLORY may be His. All things are possible through Christ our Lord. Please praise Jesus for all the victories you have in this battle. He will always keep you in his hand. He will NEVER leave you, nor forsake you. Turn to him and he will give you peace. Keep turning, don't give up. And keep on finding ways of finding people to pray with and for you. Look to Jesus.
on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 3:17 am
on Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 7:47 am
Thank you for your prayer and words of encouragement (and no, you weren't too harsh--if anything, I wasn't harsh enough with myself). Mortification, feeling physically ill with the shame, feeling completely useless and like I'm rotting inside--I can definitely relate. As shamed as I felt before, the awfulness of my thoughts seems even worse now that I have put them into words (and published them for others to see--*cringe*). And yet, it's good to know that I'm not alone, and that there are other Christians out there willing to admit this problem. It's amazing how easy it is to ignore the sin of some of our thoughts, until certain ones take over and we are desperate to escape them. In my life, the thoughts that most often "take over" are ones of fear and anxiety (although I've had plenty of much more horrible thoughts), and even these are sins of not trusting God, and it's easy to forget this. In this situation, I've managed to mix both problems (adulterous thoughts, a more obvious sin, with anxiety about the past, which is also sinful). It's so much easier to control my sinful actions than my hidden thoughts! While I can control (mostly) where I go and what I do, I know that this (along with other sin) is a heart issue that only Jesus can fix. In this particular case, it's not a simple issue of only controlling my outward actions, so I *must* depend on Jesus to cleanse my heart of its sin. Thanks again for sharing and praying; I will also continue to pray for you.
To Arla,
I'm praying for you and your daughters also. Although I haven't been in your shoes, I can imagine that you may also be second-guessing some of God's plans right now--I wish it weren't so easy for us to do this, because I know personally that it robs us of peace, joy, and contentment, over and over again. I will pray specifically for protection for your daughters, and for the Lord to give you assurance specifically about His plan for your life, your daughter's lives, and your marriage.
on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 12:32 pm
on Thursday, August 25, 2011 at 9:49 pm
on Saturday, August 27, 2011 at 11:13 pm
http://www.katiestromwall.com/blog/2011/09/06/surviving-my-first-trimester-part-1/
God's power is truly made perfect in our weakness. Blessings to everyone as you are suffering, you are in my prayers.
Katie
on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 11:40 am