#8. Challenge Accepted!

 "We have a God who delights in impossibilities."

-Andrew Murray

I am so used to looking for the easiest way possible to do something.  I can get frustrated or even annoyed when I see people working inefficiently.  It seems to be human nature always to look for the easy way out of a situation.  Our intelligence is what separates us from the “lower species,” right?  We have assembly lines and instant/automatic everything.  So it seems natural to look for the easy way out of the difficulties in our lives, too.  But God works differently. 

In Joshua 3, God leads Israel through the flooded Jordan River and into Canaan.  The natural, human path would have been to go around.  What was accomplished by going through?

First, Israel was forced to rely on God’s provision for them, rather than trusting in their own strength.  They must have told their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren the story of this miraculous display of God’s power for generations to come.

Second, Israel’s enemies heard this story, too.  Those in Jericho had already heard of how the God of Israel parted the Red Sea more than 40 years earlier.  Now, in their very own land, they saw Him do a miracle again.

God does not see as man sees.  Where I see difficulty or even impossibility, He sees opportunity.  I picture it going a little something like this:

 

Me:  "Nope.  No way.  Uh uh.  There's no way I could ever do that."

 

God:  "Challenge accepted!"  :)

 

God definitely isn’t interested in choosing the “easy route” for us. Instead, He chooses the path that will give Him the most glory!

 

It’s scary for me to walk on when I can see and hear the flood waters rushing ahead.  But God came through for Israel, and He’ll come through for me, too.  One, because He loves me, and He promises to work all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28); and two, because His ultimate goal is to bring glory to Himself (Isaiah 48:11).

A few weeks ago, I finished my first 5k, and I was so proud of myself. 

 

 

Of course, thousands—or probably even millions—of people have done 5k’s, and in MUCH faster times than me!

No one is really that impressed when you do something that anyone could do.  But everyone takes notice when God does something that only He can do—whether it’s a miraculous healing, forgiveness for someone who doesn’t deserve it, or grace and peace when He chooses not to heal.  Whatever the circumstance, we can trust that He is accomplishing something far greater than anything we can see or understand.

God used a shepherd boy to slay a nine-foot giant (1 Samuel 17).  He conquered an army with 300 men who lapped water like dogs (Judges 7).  He redeemed the world through His own Son, born to an unwed mother.  And He used a group of nobodies to spread the good news of His salvation around the world.  Honestly, there are a lot of days when I don’t know what God sees in me or why He would want to use someone who is so timid, insecure, and stubborn.  But I am learning that, ironically, the more fragile and frail I am, the more qualified for Kingdom service I am!  
 

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”  So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 

-2 Corinthians 12:9

Praise God that His power works best in weakness.  Bring it on!  :)