Do You Feel Weak? You're Not Alone

Have you ever felt weak?  Maybe physically weak because of fatigue or illness, maybe mentally weak from the burdens of school or work, maybe emotionally weak after the loss of a close relationship or the death of a loved one, or maybe a little of each? It never feels good to be weak.  We, as a society, look down on weakness.  We glorify the strong.  The covers of our magazines show well built physiques.  The world loves a strong leader, a powerful voice, or a bigger than life athlete.  We buy vitamins, hormones, and memberships to health clubs. We listen to motivational speakers and hide our weaknesses to maintain an illusion of strength.  But you, how are YOU inside?  Maybe I'm all alone in this, but I for one am WEAK!!! I have strong moments but every time I climb some spiritual or physical peak I slide down the other side and realize that in my flesh, I am weak.  If this resonates with you read on.  If not you might want to search one of my earlier posts on pride.

In Mathew 26 Jesus left his disciples in the garden at Gethsemane to go off and pray alone.  He took Peter, James, and John a little farther along the path and asked them to stay and keep watch as he went ahead to pray. When he returned he found them sleeping.  Jesus said to them, "Couldn't you men keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation, the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." Twice more Jesus went off to pray and both times he found the disciples asleep on his return.  I find it interesting that Jesus shows their physical weakness by their inability to stay awake for even one hour but then talks about temptation.  Jesus shows us our physical and our spiritual weakness.  He makes a distinction between their flesh and their spirits. Peter, "The Rock", once again reveals that he, like us, was weak. Phew!  We are in good company.

Paul in Romans chapter 7 admitted his weakness and struggle as the inner war between good and evil, sin and obedience raged in his heart.  He came to the Corinthians in "weakness with great fear and trembling."  In the eleventh chapter of Corinthians he says, "Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?  If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness."

Here is the beauty of the Bible, the awesome irony of God's sovereign plan:

God chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Corinthians 1:27)  He chose a murder with a stuttering problem to lead the Jews out of Egypt, a donkey to speak truth to a disobedient prophet, and a persecutor of the church to be one of it's greatest evangelists. He loves the weak.  Why? I think one of the biggest reasons is that God is the only one who is really strong and when he reveals himself through men (or women) he leaves no doubt that the strength is from HIM and not from man. "so that no one can boast." If we are honest with ourselves  we would all admit that we are weak.  The Bible is clear that God lifts up the humble and the meek but opposes the prideful, boastful, and arrogant.

I want to encourage you today to admit your weakness. Understand that in your flesh you will find weakness to temptation, weakness to fear, weakness to depression, weakness in your body, and weakness in your spirit.  But God had done something supernatural for you if you are his child by faith.  He has given you his Spirit.  The Holy Spirit of God dwells in you.  Romans 8:26 says, "the Spirit helps us in our weakness." We are reminded that we can do all things "through Him who give us strength." Paul urges us to live by the Spirit and not the flesh but he acknowledges that it's not always easy and is indeed an ongoing battle.

Galatians 5:17 "For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit and the Spirit, what is contrary to the flesh.  They are in conflict with each other . . " We are instructed to "Keep in step with the Spirit."  As we do we begin to see the power of HIM through our weakness.  These words from Paul bring it all together, "I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak then, I am strong."

Be blessed knowing that as you walk in the Spirit (by repentance, prayer and obedience) you'll begin to see the fruits of the Spirit blossom in you: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.  It likely won't be a straight climb but a slow, hard climb with peaks and valleys but keep walking!

I hope this spoke to someone today because I know this season of celebration is also a time for many of great pain, anxiety, fear, and weakness.  But now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory.

Amen,

David

Fear - Bad thing or Good thing? The Bible says, "Both!"

When I was about ten years old I watched a movie called "The Legend of Boggy Creek".  I don't think I was supposed to watch it but somehow it passed the parental filter. Fear was born.  The movie was about Sasquatch, otherwise known as Bigfoot and from that night on (at least for a few months) I was certain the hairy, ape-man was roaming my neighborhood.  I couldn't sleep and fear gripped my mind. I peeked out of my bedroom window every night scanning the yard and the street for signs of him and then anxiously looked under my bed just in case he somehow got through the front door.

Fear, anxiety, worry, dread.  We're afraid of our failing finances, our failing health, our safety. We fear losing our children, our spouses, our pets, our freedom, and our honor. We can't sleep and our appetites go south. We seek counseling and we seek medicines that will calm our fears and, behind our Sunday smiles, the fear still lingers.

So, do you have a Sasquatch roaming the streets of your mind right now?  I think that it would be a good time to look at fear and anxiety and see if we can find some freedom and some hope from the giants that are holding us captive.

I set out to search the Bible to see how many times and in what ways the word "fear" was used.  I guess I assumed that I would see over and over "FEAR NOT!" and yes that was there  but  that is not exactly all that  I found.  The most common Old Testament word for fear was "yare" and in the New Testament was "phobos" from which we get the word phobia. These words mean fear, dread, terror but also have a component of awe and reverence.  As I scanned the search results what I found over and over and over again were the phrases "fear God" and "the fear of the Lord". GREAT! One more thing to be afraid of! "That will not go over well with my readers!", I thought. But then I began to read and search and pray. Here is what I found and I pray that you will grab ahold of this and find freedom from your fear.

I first want to say that there are many times that the Lord reminds us that he is ALWAYS in control and the believer need not ever worry.  We will look at those awesome promises in a moment but it seems that the Bible tells us that there is a precursor to the promise and that the answer to the problem of fear is fear.  WHAT? How can fear cure fear?  Let's see.

Take a look at these verses and ponder them for a moment:

Ecclesiastes 12:13  "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man." (King Solomon)

Proverbs 9:10  "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (King Solomon)

Deuteronomy 5:29  "Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and there children forever!"  (God)

1 Samuel 12:24  "But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you."  (Samuel)

Psalm 103:11  "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him."  (King David)

Acts 10:34-35  "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right."  (Peter)

I think that the beginning of our freedom from fear begins with a right view of God and an understanding and acknowledgment of who his is.  It begins when we see him with the awe and the reverent fear he deserves.  I know that it seems counterintuitive to fear the One from whom we look to for love but we are weak people and there is a certain amount of fear necessary to keep us on the right road. Be honest.  Don't we drive a little slower when we think there is a state trooper around the next corner?  Don't we walk a little more carefully along the edge of a cliff than we do when we walk down the side walk.  There are fears that are healthy and reasonable and the fear of the Lord is one of those.  When we know who we are and who He is then we can humble ourselves and draw near to him but always with a holy awe and reverent fear.

Now for those who fear him and seek him he promises that we need not fear!  Ever!!  Soak in these verse and hold them close to your heart:

Psalm 23:4  "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." (King David)

Isaiah 41:10 "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  (God)

2 Chronicles 20:15  "This is what the Lord says to you, 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is is not yours, but God's.'"  (Jahaziel son of Zechariah)

John 14:27  "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."  (Jesus, the Christ)

So, today as you go forward, consider the power, majesty, and love of the God of the universe and fear him.  But as you do remember that he created you for relationship and for eternal life.  Remember that he loved you enough to send his Son to die for you and me.  Then remember that for those who love him and have come by faith, nothing is impossible and no enemy too strong.  There are no storms too violent or diseases that can't be conquered!  Jesus said, "Do not be afraid".  Let's cling to that and remember that one day there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things... will soon pass away.

May peace reign in your hearts this Christmas!

David