Then When I Am Weak
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As he sat in his prison cell, surely he must have reflected back on the incredible ministry he had once had. He had been called by God from the time he was still in his mother’s womb, to preach repentance from sins – to prepare the way of the Lord. There was nothing at all average about him. He had a clear and strong destiny, and as a young man, he set out to fulfill it.
Crowds of people gathered by the river where he preached a strong message of repentance. One by one people repented and were baptized. Day after day he preached, baptized, and even criticized those who thought they had no need to repent.
He stood strong and fast against sin – and that was what eventually grated on the political leaders until they arrested him and threw him in prison.
And there he sat in the cold, dank cell filled with rats and insects of all sorts – dirt, filth, maggots, lice and stuff no one even wants to talk about.
As time went by, doubts began to plague his thoughts. Perhaps he was just another radical in a long line of radicals that had excited and moved the masses, who were here today and tomorrow forgotten. Surely, just as he had disappeared from the scene, another one would rise up in his place. Who was he to think he was actually a prophet of God? Who was he to think that he was called by God to prepare the way for the Messiah? The very Messiah his ancestors had hoped to see in their lifetimes. The very Messiah that King David himself had spoke of.
How presumptuous of him to think that he would be called to such an honor.<
And yet – there was his cousin Jesus.
Jesus.
Was he really the Messiah?
He had been so sure. In fact, he had never been more certain of anything…at the time.
There was the baptism and the dove.
But was that just a figment of his imagination?
Oh to be sure again! Oh to know that all that had happened wasn’t just another show of radicals with eloquent words void of substance.
And it was in this time of weakness, despair, and doubt that John the Baptist sent his disciples to Jesus to ask Him if He really was the Messiah, the Christ, God incarnate.
And just when you think that Jesus might have criticized John for his doubts – after all, John was his cousin. He had been the first to declare Him the Messiah. Jesus’ response is not at all what you would expect.
He turns to John’s disciples and simply tells them to relay to John what they had seen: miracles and deliverance. No criticism, no condemnation.
Then He turns to the multitudes and starts to talk about John: about his strength of character and prophetic call to prepare the way for the Messiah. He even goes so far to say that there was no greater prophet ever born.
No greater prophet. Greater than Isaiah and Jeremiah, Elijah and Elisha and Samuel.
And while I read this and pondered on its message, I began to see God’s love and mercy in a whole new dimension.
There is not a Christian in all of history who hasn’t faced times when their faith was weak.
If there is anything this story reaffirms for us, it is that God is more merciful and loving than we have ever imagined. I have known – known very well – the side of God that is righteous and holy. And He is righteous and holy. But He is also merciful and loving. His mercy and love perfectly balance His righteousness and holiness in a way that is hard for us to comprehend. Actually – we can’t understand it with our minds. We have to experience it.
Perhaps you feel distanced from God right now.
Maybe you have lost your passion for Him and His word.
Maybe you are walking through a time of great pain.
Perhaps all you have ever thought and known is being tested.
Do not be afraid to come to Jesus with your doubts and questions. He wont turn you away. He wont rebuke you, criticize you or reject you. He will lovingly show you His power and might.
And just as later on, John had the strength He needed to stand strong in face of the greatest test he would ever face – martyrdom – and He gave his very life for Christ, so you will find that as you come out on the other side you will have greater strength than ever before
It is in those times of great weakness that He becomes our strength!
This post is part of the Good Morning Girls Blogging Through the Bible Series
Other posts for Luke are:
Not All Who Claim To Be Christian Go To Heaven
The Everlasting Grace of Christ
This article was shared at Charisma Magazine’s SpiritLed Woman and Church of God’s Faith News Network under the title Standing Strong When Circumstances Shake Your Faith.
Clanak se nalazi na stranici Samo Pismo na hrvatskom jeziku pod naslovom: Kako čvrsto stajati kad okolnosti poljuljaju vašu vjeru?
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I love what you said here “It is in those times of great weakness that He becomes our strength!” This is so true. We will always find Him to be faithful and to get us through, we just need to remember to rely on His strength instead of our own. I can’t tell you how many times I find myself trying something in my own strength, instead of relying on Him to do it. We can’t “bother” God. We are never a bother to Him!
I would love to have you join us on Monday for my “Making Your Home Sing Monday” linky party sometime. Just a thought! 🙂
I
love what you said here “It is in those times of great weakness that He
becomes our strength!” This is so true. We will always find Him to be
faithful and to get us through, we just need to remember to rely on His
strength instead of our own. I can’t tell you how many times I find
myself trying something in my own strength, instead of relying on Him to
do it. We can’t “bother” God. We are never a bother to Him!
I would love to have you join us on Monday for my “Making Your Home Sing Monday” linky party sometime. Just a thought! 🙂
This is very strange. I made the bottom comment but for some reason it linked to a profile picture that’s not me. It won’t let me delete it either. So I copied what I said and redid it and my profile showed up.
What a vivid portrait of John the Baptist, he certainly followed God’s path to the death. Thankful for such Bible heroes to encourage us as we follow Him.
Mary
I had shivers reading your post. Thank you for linking up at Motivation Monday.
Thank you for hosting, Barb!
Yes – true heroes that we can point our children to emulate!
Nan – for some reason Disqus often puts my picture next to people’s comments. I don’t know why.
Amen!!! I often find myself doing the same thing! I am so sorry – I just realized that you had invited me to join your link up party! I will certainly do this next Monday. (please forgive me – I get behind in my comments sometimes!)
Oh, I didn’t realize it was your picture. I’m glad. I was concerned that the other person (whose picture it was) would be annoyed, lol!
Subject: [alittlernr] Re: A Little R & R: Then When I Am Weak
This was a vivid picture of John and his thought and “doubts” It is not wrong to doubt for a short time, then we pull in the reigns and straighten up and say, “I believe.”
I loved this post thank you for writing it and also sharing it. I hope you have a wonderful week and if there is time stop by and say hi to me at http://mommiespov.com/wordless-wednesday-puppy-fun/
Amen!!! We must pull in the reigns and say “I believe!” I love that!
Wow….that was wonderful. You’re such a great writer and that was a beautiful message!
wonderful example of how we need to ponder over scripture and allow the words to touch us personally… thanks for sharing with Salt & Light!
Marissa
raysofgraceandjoy.blogspot.com
More than one person has asked “Who are you really.” John asked, his disciples also asked and at times we might ask as well. May we seek the REAL Jesus and allow him to flood us so full with his Glory that we shall KNOW without a doubt who He is. Thank you for sharing your lovely post with us here at “Tell Me a Story.” At: http://letmetelluastory.blogspot.com/
Good thinking and good spiritual sharing. Really good and helps so many reaffirm the situations that were strong then and can be strong, in one way or another, now. Thank you.
Thank you, Judith. I credit the Lord for this one…these are His words.
Yes – the key is to rely on His strength in those times that are hard. He is so faithful.
Thank you, Trish. The Lord be praised!
Yes!! I think we often miss so much by quickly skimming the words and going on with our day. The Word is living – so it ever deepens…and the deeper we go, the deeper it becomes.
I really give all praise the Lord, He gave the words.
Beautiful! What a wonderful picture of God’s grace and love for us. God really isn’t afraid of our doubts. I’ve been learning so much about how He is perfectly capable of loving us through our weakness. We try so hard to pretend like we have it all together. But… He knows better AND He loves us anyway.
Thank you, Carissa. I think we really struggle with understanding the “perfect-ness” of His love, because our’s is so imperfect.
Thank you!! I too feel that way many times!
Thank you for stopping by Carmille.
Thank you once again for being faithful to your calling.