I've heard of people picking a verse that guides them for the year. I think it's a great idea. I did not do that, however one was picked for me. Every so often the same verse keeps coming to my head:
"My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 11:22
I've really been wondering why has this been coming back to me. I'm not in the middle of a major crisis. My life is at a time of peace. Well it is but I am struggling with something. Something I'm somewhat aware of but I keep pushing it aside. I'm dealing with the perfection complexion. I am striving to be the perfect mom who doesn't need help and can do it on her own. Secretly I am overwhelmed and slightly depressed. I end up shutting down and not wanting to do what I know is important.
God is reminding me that I don't need to be perfect. This verse goes against everything our culture is teaching us. Weakness is bad. Weakness is looked so unfavorably that it brings people to bully others.
In our weakness God makes us stronger. Does he give the weak little guy some new muscles or does he give him a brain that will cure cancer. How about the the alcoholic? Will his strength come from someone who knows what he is going through and can be there for him when he feels weak? Where does strength come from for the mom that doesn't want people to know how weak she feels? This week it came in the form of other women who have a heart for girls and are able to come together with a common goal and know God put us together to support one another and build each other up.
God gives us strength even when we don't ask for it. He puts people in our lives to give us strength. He gives us his spirit to feel His peace that surrounds us. Being weak is not a bad thing. Being weak gives us a chance to see what God can do in our lives.
I may not be going through a deep valley where I can't see my way out, but God is showing me what I need now. He has always known what I need and He is providing it. I am weak and I'm ok with that. With God I will be stronger then I ever could on my own.
One of my favorite Bible stories is Esther for a couple reasons. Of course as a woman, I love to see stories of amazing women God used. To me it is important to remind myself and my girls that God thinks we are important too. He has a purpose for us because we are women.
I also love the story of Esther because of what Mordeccai said to Esther when he was pleading for help:
"Do not think that because you are in the king's house you alone of all Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" Esther 4: 13-14
A few years ago that passage stuck out to me like it never has. Every time I read it I feel like I learn even more. First God and God alone put Esther in the role of queen to save her people. Why else would a Jewish girl become queen instead of one of the hundreds of other beautiful girls.
The phrase, "such a time as this" keeps playing in my head. If God can make Esther queen so she can save her people, what plans does He have for me? Of all the times for me to live, this is when God chose us to live. We are here for such a time as this.
He calls us just as He called Esther. What I find even more interesting and inspiring of the passage is that Mordecai tells Esther that if she doesn't speak up, deliverance will come from some place else. In Judges, Deborah warns Barak that because he didn't trust God when he was called to deliver the Jews, he would not be the one to deliver his people but a woman. God really is series about us obeying Him and there are consequences when we don't.
God will deliver His people, not just the Jews but also His children, believers. We were put here on this earth at this time for a "such a time as this". We have a chance to do what God has called us to do, be a light that shines with LOVE:
Matthew 5:14 "You are the light of world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden."
Matthew 5:44 "But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Matthew 19:19 "love your neighbor as yourself"
John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love on anther. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love on another."
John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends."
I feel God is calling me to rain down love on those around me for such a time as this. What has God called you to do? Are you obeying?
