What’s in your hand?
At the end of each day, I look forward to sitting with my wife, Erikka, to watch any of the many reality television shows available to stream. Early in our relationship, we loved streaming wilderness survival shows such as Running Wild with Bear Grylls or Alone on the History channel, where participants are forced to use their experience and skills to survive the elements when abandoned in hostile environments around the globe.
Erikka and I, self-proclaimed survivalists, the result of our many hours of intense tv viewing, are always amazed at how small and seemingly insignificant items are transformed into life-saving tools. We have witnessed dental floss transformed into fishing lines, reading glasses used to start a fire, and even pantyhose to make a water filter. For some contestants, the gravity of the circumstance, whether a shipwreck, plane crash, or a wrong turn while hiking, can be overwhelming, causing participants to focus on the obstacles in their path rather than the simple solutions on hand.
Life is constantly throwing new challenges our way. Some challenges are exciting, sparking a sense of adventure and new beginnings, such as a new job or relationship, while other challenges stretch us emotionally, spiritually, and even physically, such as an unexpected illness or financial difficulties. At times, it feels like a game of survival.
There are times when the Lord calls us into a circumstance or a task for which we feel completely and utterly unprepared, underqualified, undeserving, and too small and insignificant for the job. The Bible has many examples of when the Lord calls His servants to action, leading them into impossible situations only to then empower them to victory by means of small and seemingly insignificant items. A smooth stone ( 1 Samuel 17:40-50), the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 15:16), five loaves and two fish (Matthew 14:17-18), and a wooden staff (Exodus 4:1-3) are all items the Lord placed in the hands of humble and willing servants who then overcame impossible circumstances to fulfill His will.
The next time you sense the Lord leading you into a difficult circumstance, remember to focus on the one who is greater than any obstacle you might encounter. He will never lead you into a situation for which you are not equipped. He is a God who always provides and works miracles through small and seemingly insignificant things. Even you!
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Yours in Christ,
Brad
