Powerless And Powerful

Powerless and Powerful

We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help. 2 Chronicles 20:12

KING JEHOSHAPHAT AND THE PEOPLE OF JUDAH were surrounded by a coalition of armies. They were sitting ducks, powerless against a force that vastly outnumbered them. But instead of surrendering or losing heart and waiting for defeat, they cried out to God. Jehoshaphat expressed their vulnerability—and their faith—perfectly: “We are powerless. . . . We don’t know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

That may not seem like the best place to be, but it’s an extremely strong position. Those worries that cause us to lose sleep may do a number on our sense of security, but they actually put us right where we need to be—if we let them. They take us into the fortress of our Father, where he has promised to protect us. He doesn’t necessarily shield us from every battle, and we don’t always win in the short term. But we do always overcome. In the end, we are supported and strengthened by the God who promised to defend us.

If you’ve ever wondered what to do with your concerns—how to move from saying you have faith to actually having it—this is it. It’s one thing to know he is watching out for you, but it’s another to actually trust him to do so. Simply expressing your worries to God may help in the moment, but not for long. Actively declaring your own insufficiency while honoring God for his complete sufficiency begins a shift in your mind. Trust begins to grow. Faith begins to flourish. The inner condition of the heart begins to strengthen as the knowledge and presence of God fills it. Your worries begin to wither and die.

Everyone wants that, but few know how to get there. Your starting point is to stop trying to be self-reliant and to begin owning up to your weaknesses. Then step into God’s strength. Tell him the next step is up to him. You may have to take it, but that’s his call. He already knows the solution. Invite him into the problem. Our powerlessness is a perfect match for his power.

The way to grow strong in Christ is to become weak in yourself.