We want to be strong. We want to believe “I can rescue me” -- because if we can’t, then we have to actually acknowledge we are weak. I once believed if I admitted I was weak, I would succumb to nothing but defeat.
Can you relate?
Have you ever felt so broken you were convinced the floor beneath you could no longer bear the weight for you to stand? That your world in the blink of an eye was slipping right through the palms of your very hands? Or that the pain and the weakness in your heart couldn’t fathom fighting through another beat again?
Take a moment.
Sit with this.
What is this place, this moment, this feeling for you?
I know it’s uncomfortable. I know it’s painful. But friend, I can assure you there is the freedom to be had when you can admit you need God’s mighty hand and humbly invite Him in.
What does it look like to open up an invitation? Call me a nerd, but I love understanding the depths of the meaning behind a word. An invitation may seem like such a routine casual thing to say or do, but have you really thought about what presenting an invitation really means? According to the Merriam Webster Dictionary, an invitation is a “formal request to be present or participate”.
I soaked this in and really processed what it means to genuinely and authentically invite God in; specifically, speaking into our weaknesses. Yikes, the definition’s word “participate” is quite convicting in itself. It’s convicting because, if I’m being honest, there have been times I’ve been the teacher’s pet for participation and was quite okay if God’s participation stayed in the background so I can grasp for control over the outcome in my pain or weakness.
Sometimes it’s easy to fall into the trap of believing if we can have control it will provide a sense of security in comfort -- at this point, anything is better than feeling weak...right?
In reality, we have to ask ourselves, is this really how to live a life in freedom and one that’s righteous?
If we don’t invite Him in our weakness, we openly deny Him of not just His strength and His power to redeem, but also His guidance to lead. In inviting Him into our weakness, we must be willing to ask for wisdom in the direction He is calling us to go, and allow ourselves to surrender what we think we know.
“I instruct you in the way of wisdom and keep you along straight paths. When you walk your steps will not be hampered; when you run you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction and do not let it go; guard it well for it is your life. ”
Proverbs 4:11-13 (NIV)
Ask yourself this - isn’t it a lot easier to follow God righteously when we are totally on board with where He is calling us? But, when God is calling us to deny ourselves, our plans, our control, our selfish desires, and to fully surrender our pain, it becomes much more tempting to choose our own way.
I know I’m guilty at times for choosing selfishness and living in denial of my weakness instead of humbly pursuing righteousness. If you’re like me and struggle with this from time to time too, the beauty is He’s already forgiven you. He knows we are flawed, and He knows our hearts’ desires. Despite this, He graciously forgives us. But let us not forget He still challenges us to be called higher.
If we just loosen the grip of our stoic pride, you can hear God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness whisper to you, “follow me, I’m on your side.”
The Bible clearly tells us to “hold on to instruction” and for us to “not let it go”. His promise in return is that we won’t be led astray when we walk the path on His terms and in His way.
We must cling fast to our mission to pursue righteousness to the very end and firmly trust (despite the obstacles or pain we may face), that He will work it out for good again.
No matter what the path looks like that He is calling you to go, pursuing righteousness in alignment with His will should fill us with hope. It may not be easy, most times it really isn’t, but always remember your weakness holds a beautiful invitation for His strength and redemption to begin.
Sweet friend, I challenge you - take the stand to invite Him in.
“Put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.”
Psalm 130:7 |
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