True Strength

What a beautiful day it is today. It’s Thursday as I’m writing this, and it’s super cold outside, but the air is crisp and the sun is shining. I love days like this! The sky is clear… the stillness is refreshing… and I’m usually in my warm coat headed toward a heater and a hot cup of something caffeinated. No wonder it feels so great out today!

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

I spoke with my daughter last night about where true strength comes from, and I thought I would share what I have learned with you, as well.  I love these moments.  We were home, it was bedtime, and I had pulled out my journal and earbuds so I could have some quiet time with God…

Through the years I have lived my life in two ways… part of the time living for myself, other times living for God. These days, as I am nearing the latter half of my life, I know that I cannot have true strength without spending regular time with God.  There’s no real peace if I’m not seeking after Him and letting Him lead.

These were tough lessons to learn, so I want to help my kids learn them early, if I can.

Sitting down to focus on the Father and connect with Him, I thought, “I should show my daughter how to do this.”  Then He said into my heart, “I wish you would,” so I paused my music and called her into my room. She had already been dozing off, so she had that sweet sleepy look on her face that I love so much.  It usually calls for Mom cuddles and kisses which she can usually, but respectfully, do without. 

<Insert teenage eye-rolling here.>

Anyway, I apologized for waking her up and let her know that I was sitting down to have quiet time and wanted to show her what I was about to do.  She loves to talk, so she was up for it.

I explained that sometimes I get out my journal, put on some worship music, and write down everything that comes to mind as I listen to the words and worship God.  I do this in faith believing that God will speak into my heart the very words I need to hear that are so crucial to my life.  

I read some of the things I had written, some of the scriptures that had come to mind, and what they meant to me in those moments. 

He so often reminds me that I am loved and cherished, as are we all.  Like little children so deeply loved by a strong and sweet-hearted Papa, He loves to see us searching for Him… loves to hear our voices in worship and prayer… loves to abide with us there, in His love, for He is love. 

I have shared some of my past and current struggles with my children, so they know I’m just as human as anyone else. I battle fear, doubt, and insecurity just as much as the next guy. And these moments with God? This is how we fight and win.

I explained to my child that this is where real strength comes from.  It’s not found in self-sufficiency, which I have tried.  It’s not found in perfectionism, which I have tried.  People-pleasing may seem to bring strength in the moment, but living for man’s approval is a poisonous trap. Been there, done that.

True strength… the Bible kind of strength… is only found in God, through Jesus Christ.

Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

John 15:4

I used to think that if I could just be perfect, everything would be ok. My life would come together, my relationships would be healed, everything would be “fixed” and that sinking feeling in my chest would finally leave.

I lived with that feeling for decades. I woke up with it every morning. “Something bad will happen today because you are not good enough. You are bad. You are a failure. Everything depends on you, and you will never get it right.”

And I believed it, even as a “follower” of Christ.

I had no strength. I had no freedom.

It was during these years that the Lord began drawing me into His side, as a good Father does. I cried out for His help, and Jesus stepped into the middle of my mess and brought me to the end of myself.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

The truth of the matter is that I will never be good enough to save myself or anyone else. I will never be good enough to earn God’s love, or to earn His salvation.  I will never be good enough to be someone’s everything.  

I am flawed.  I am imperfect.  And now… I’m okay with it.

Perfectionism is not strength, it’s a prison… because nothing will EVER be perfect on this side of heaven. We end up striving all our lives to achieve something that doesn’t exist… and we are exhausted by it.

We can live with excellence, and we can push to do our very best, but then we must let go of the rest.  We must accept our own humanity and rest in the fact that only God is perfect, and He takes care of everything that concerns us (Psalm 138:8).

Accepting that truth and releasing my every worry, fear, frustration, and failure to God changed my life.

I was finally able to confess everything to the Lord, without holding anything back, and surprisingly… it gave me rest.  I stood before Him as myself, warts and all, and He cleansed my heart as only He could and made me whole.

True strength comes from that. From resting in His gentle care.

I shared with my daughter – that is what these quiet times with God are all about. It’s just pouring our hearts out to Him and asking for His help. Simple as that.

Things to remember as we are seeking the Father:

• Come boldly before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16).
  There is no need to hold anything back from the Lord. He already knows everything you are going through, and He knows exactly what you need. All you have to do is ask! He desires to work everything out for your good…
  
• Everything you need is in God’s Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
  One of the best and most important things we can do is read God’s Word and learn to apply it to our lives. A practice I learned is handwriting scriptures that apply to my situation and choosing to believe them more than what I saw with my eyes, or was experiencing in my life at the time. This is called “renewing your mind” with the Word, and it’s life-changing!
• Without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
  The rest of that verse says that anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. He wants you to come to Him. He desires for you to finally let your arms down and be brutally honest. He longs for you to ask for His help, and to let Him lead you into victory, freedom, and along the still waters of peace. You can believe Him at His Word. He can be trusted.

Sounds so good, doesn’t it? Will you seek Him today? He is ready to meet you right where you are.

I pray for us to rely on God more every single day, for that is where true strength is found. I pray for us to hear His voice above every other voice as we learn to seek after Him. I pray for us to follow Him, forsaking all others, as He shows us how, in Jesus’ name.