It was the start of a new college semester and, unsurprisingly, my suitcases were bulging with clothes, books, and several other personal items that I had convinced myself I could not do without for three months—I’m pretty sure the phrase “It’s better to be safe than sorry” was coined by a fellow over-packer.
I became acutely aware of how weak I was in comparison to him.
As I struggled to haul my heavy luggage up a flight of stairs, one of the guards at this building of residence ran to where I was and offered to help. Whether this was out of compassion or knowledge that he would later receive a tip for his courteous assistance, or a combination of both, I’m not sure. I obliged to his request and remember being amazed at how he managed to lift the weighty object up onto his shoulders. He then hurriedly—almost effortlessly—made his way up the staircase with what must have been not more than two or three strides. It looked too easy. And, in that moment, I became acutely aware of how weak I was in comparison to him.
We Are Dependant Creatures
I happened to recall this particular incident recently as I was thinking about my limitedness and weaknesses as a person. Essentially, no part of me is inherently strong. Yes, I have muscles and energy that enable me to carry and move things around. But the point remains. Because each and every one of my bodily systems functions only because God has granted that that be the case. He allowed, for example, my heart to continue beating throughout the night so that I could see this day.
God allowed my heart to continue beating throughout the night so that I could see this day.
Even in reference to strength that goes beyond skin and bone, I am what and who I am because of his incredible patience, guidance, and loving correction. I know and the Lord knows that I am weak. And nothing highlights my constant need for him more than the daily on-going battles which require me to die to self. It tends to be in the seemingly mundane moments of life that I am reminded of how I cannot manage on my own. Most times, I don’t want to love God or neighbour. It seems easier to only consider myself and push for my interests than it is to think of others and how I can serve them.
We Remain Selfish Sinners
Loving people is honestly back-breaking work. Sacrificing for others is not always sweet. For instance, you could be in a situation where there are two pieces of cake left to share between you and your younger brother. Only one of the slices happens to be significantly bigger than the other. In such a moment—if you haven’t already selfishly taken the larger piece—your flesh and spirit begin to war. You begin to come up with reasons as to why you should have the better portion.
Sacrificing for others is not always sweet.
In a few seconds, you justify and rationalise. You say to yourself that you are the older sibling. Therefore, you “have the right.” Or, if you were involved in baking the cake, then you deserve it all the more, because your effort went into it. Other times, if you’re completely torn and aren’t feeling particularly righteous, you simply choose to cut the larger piece of cake and share it more evenly so that everyone wins.
We Must Look to God
This probably seems like an extreme example. But it illustrates how all our deeds and actions, even in the most ordinary moments of everyday life, are driven by our motives to either glorify and please God or gratify our own desires. Sometimes we know that we are being led by pride, selfishness, or disbelief. Yet we still choose to give in to temptation and sin.
All our actions are driven by our motives to either glorify God or gratify our own desires.
In those moments, one way we can struggle in his strength is by praying earnestly and asking God to empower and enable us to pursue holiness through obedience. Saturating our minds with scripture, actively seeking deeper intimacy with God by purposefully studying, understanding, and memorising his word, equips us and can make yielding to the Holy Spirit’s direction in such times less strenuous. Because he’s crazy faithful, God promises to forgive us when we do sin (1 John 1:9).
We Won’t Get Far Apart From His Strength
As Christians, we can rest in the fact that we don’t have to rely on ourselves because our God can and should be safely depended on. As we actively play our part in our spiritual growth, he should be our immediate place of refuge and respite, and not an afterthought. Let’s entrust ourselves to him and not rely on our own “strength” concerning our knowledge and perception of this life and the circumstances and trials that he allows us to go through.
We don’t have to rely on ourselves because our God can be safely depended on.
I love Paul’s words towards the end of the book of Ephesians. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). You are not strong enough. That’s okay. Struggle in the strength of the One who is.
