If I ever wondered about God’s sense of timing (or even His
sense of humor), I wonder no more. Today’s Bible reading gives me His reminder that
He can solve my problem, and the writing that goes with them reminds me that He
is not obligated to fix anything that is my fault.
. . . as your days, so shall your strength be. (Deuteronomy 33:25)
I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
The author of the reading uses these verses to point out that
God will not impose any needless burdens upon me. He will not ask of me more
than He knows my strength will bear. He never asked Peter to come to Him on the
water, without at the same time imparting strength and support for him on those
unstable waves. He will not ask me to draw water if the well is too deep, or to
remove a stone if it is too heavy.
But the reading does not stop there. He writes that God does
not consider anything as impossible that I, as a free and responsible person,
have the power to avert. That is, He will not regard as my misfortune what is also
my crime. I stayed up too late. This was not forced upon me. While He grants renewed
strength to the weary, I could have come home sooner. I could have also put
down the book. Can I expect His help when I was not sensible and got myself
over-tired?
Yet isn’t it my sinfulness that causes most of my
problems? God is my Savior from sin. Will He save me from the problems of being
weak and unable? Did Christ come to give power to overcome foolishness only
before I make the mistakes, or power also have I have messed up? Will He leave me
in the pits that I foolishly dig? The Bible also says,
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29–31)
The last part of these verses has been written into a
chorus and this song is already running through my mind. Well for now, maybe it
is only walking, yet whether God chooses to renew my strength for the wedding
today or lets me feel this tired all day, I have already decided my best option
is to wait on Him.
Lord, I am old enough to know better and disciplined
enough to know that I cannot take You for granted. Yet this day is not about me.
Perhaps I need to feel tired so I will depend on You for the energy and grace
to do my part in today’s ceremony and celebration, rather than depending on my
excited emotions. Whatever happens, enable me to hear Your voice and do what You
ask, and to honor You on this important day.
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