A short time ago I was re-reading Corrie ten Boom’s book, Tramp for the Lord. As Christians in Holland during World War II, Corrie and her family helped many Jews escape the Nazi holocaust. Eventually the ten Boom’s were arrested for these activities, her father killed, and she and her sister sent to a concentration camp where her beloved sister also succumbed. Corrie survived and went on to a life of ministry. It is an amazing story.
At one point in the book, Corrie talks about a time when she was asked to do something she felt totally unequipped to do. Everything in her wanted to simply say “no” and walk away, but instead, she was reminded of the things God had spoken to her in past situations like this.
She shared, “Always when I say I am not able, I get the same answer from the Lord. He says “I know you can’t. I have known it already a long time. I am glad now you know it for yourself, for now you can let ME do it.”
Recovery is difficult. Making changes, facing old wounds, and reaching out to others is hard work. Scary work. We often get exhausted. We don’t know how to get from here to there. But, God is not surprised by your fear, your weariness or your inadequacies, real or perceived. In fact, he knew all along that none of us could do it by ourselves . . . nor did he expect us to.
Paul spoke of his own realization of this in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. He was complaining about his own weaknesses and God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you. For my power is made perfect in weakness.” As the truth of these words permeated his soul, Paul was able to say “I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
When we realize that our own best efforts are never going to be enough, we can finally begin to surrender our struggles, our fears, and our inadequacies to God and ask him to work in and through us. It’s as we learn, more and more, how to do this that the REALLY exciting things begin to happen!
“Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord Almighty.” —Zechariah 4:6
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