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“The words “I can’t” aren’t in my parents’ vocabulary. They’ve never let us make excuses to not do something. They actually practically bend backward proving to us that we can with maybe a few modifications, a little guidance, or help getting started…
Like tonight…Being 4′ 10″ and not very strong I worried that I wouldn’t be able to help care for the animals fully. Sure I can feed and water them but how would I carry the bags of feed from the store to the car? From the car to the chickens let alone dumping the food into the bins?
Well after Mom and Dad bought cat litter, chicken feed & oyster shell tonight I got to haul it back and dump all 240 pounds worth–mostly by myself! I unloaded it from the van into the wagon and hauled the wagon through the swamp of a backyard and dumped all the feed into the bins! I had a little help navigating the extremely muddy sections of the yard and getting it started.
Dad and Bradley were right there guiding me through it but I did it. I CAN do it! Was it attractive? Heavens no! But quite honestly, I’m proud of myself. I didn’t fall though I did lose my boot, we all got a good laugh, & I learned that even now I’m capable of hauling feed by myself.”
I posted this on Social Media the other day and it got me thinking…
I’m reading the book of Exodus. How God is leading the Israelites through the desert. Guiding them with a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21). How He provided for their every need. Giving them exactly what they needed it when they needed it (Exodus 16:29).
I think it’s interesting that in the very next chapter, right after seeing the way that God provided the manna we see the Israelites complaining and wondering if God has abandoned them (Exodus 17:3). And this theme repeats multiple times throughout the book. God miraculously provides for them and shows Himself mighty. The Israelites run into a snag and immediately question God. God shows Himself mighty and then the cycle repeats again and again.
Life continually throws things at us that are too hard, too heavy and just too much.
While deaths, financial struggles, and sickness certainly qualify, sometimes it can be as simple as having a busy day and only getting a couple of hours of sleep the night before. Feeling convicted to homeschool your children but feeling so unqualified. Or needing strength to simply make it through the day because you are D.O.N.E.
But you know what? The same way that Dad and Bradley were right beside me while I unloaded those bags of feed, guiding me through the process, helping me navigate the muddy yard, rescuing my boot from the mud, and being there to catch me in case I fell is the same way that God is with us in our everyday lives. Whatever your day holds, God is RIGHT there with you, guiding you, helping you minute by minute.
This is not to say that life as a Christian is like pressing the easy button or that Christians won’t have hard things they have to walk through. We’re human there are going to be struggles and life is hard…too hard and too heavy at times. The difference is that we have God–a supernatural strength that we can call upon to help. We’re not in this alone! Several hundred years before the birth of Christ it was prophesied by Isaiah that His name shall be Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). The name Immanuel is translated God with us (Matthew 1:23). Jesus’ very name means that He is with us!
In and of ourselves we are not strong enough to handle life. But God is. He sent Jesus to conquer this life and be victorious. He has overcome (John 16:33)! And it’s THROUGH Him that we too can be victorious. Relying on His strength and guidence (John 15:4).
Until next time,
Bailey Sue
Amen…