Recently, there’s been a few places that have lost power in my area. A friend woke up to no power in her house and had the challenge of showering and getting ready for work with no lights. Another friend lost power in the evening, with guests coming the next day. Her family did their best to clean the house by flashlight, which worked until they got the sweeper out. Trying to catch up at work on a Saturday doesn’t work either when the power is out and you can’t get in the building. No electricity means the electronic sensor has no chance of working. All of us are accustomed to having power in our lives when we need it.
Where can we get power to face the constant challenges we meet each day? Where can we go to get more strength? If we ask, God will give it to us. “But you Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength, come quickly to help me.” (Psalm 22:19) So if your day starts a little dark, look towards the light. From Isaiah 33:2, “Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.” Isn’t it amazing that we have the ear of the Creator of the Universe AND He is standing ready to help? “God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1) In essence, the solution to our trials is simple. Need more power? Go straight to the Source.
As a teacher, I need certain credentials on my resume. An employer would be interested in my knowledge of curriculum, instructional practices, and classroom management and discipline. On the other hand, two of my brothers are carpenters and their resumes look incredibly different from mine. I’m sure they wouldn’t be the least bit interested in state standards. And trust me, you don’t want me holding a power tool. (Let’s just say there may have been a time when damage was done…) There’s definitely a skillset to every profession.
The wind was at my back today as I set out for a ride on the trail. With the sun in my face and a bright blue sky above me, my attitude soared with each passing mile. Fall’s splendor surrounded me in gorgeous displays of color. When I made the turn to come home however, the ride became decidedly harder. It seemed like everything conspired against me to keep me from my destination: the wind at my face, fatigue, and a steady rise in the road. I wanted to stop and rest but instead I put my head down, pushed on, and hoped to make it to my house as soon as possible. Then suddenly it happened, I turned onto my street, and I was never happier to see my driveway leading me into my home.
Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq are a few places listed on my friend’s resume. TJ’s a colonel in the United States Army and has also served her country faithfully during Desert Storm and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Her resume is littered with impressive honors, strong leadership, and passionate pursuits. There aren’t many challenges that will intimidate a soldier of her standing but one duty still makes her nervous: briefing a general. There’s something about all those stars on his uniform that gives her pause. Even with rigorous research, scrutiny of information, and extensively rehearsing the speech, her heart still races when she approaches the general’s office. So she leans in. Psalm 86:7, “In the day of trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.” Even a strong colonel needs the support of an Almighty God.
“Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Superwoman!” This is what I’m sure people are saying about me when I ride on the bike trail. (I have no actual data to support this claim. My moderate speed also indicates people may be thinking I am taking a leisurely bike ride. But you never know…) On the trail, you will see dog walkers, joggers, and a variety of serious to leisurely bikers. Tonight while I was riding I came upon an elderly couple walking slowing and gingerly along the path. As I drew near them I said, “I am passing on your left.” The gentleman immediately grabbed his wife’s hand and stepped between her and my bike. There was something about that instant act of protection that moved me. He didn’t hesitate, and in that perfect moment, the older man became her bodyguard.
As Christians, we’re called upon to be more like Jesus. Most of the time, we do this by focusing on His love. And that’s the right way to start. Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-39, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind,” and “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Those commandments are a big undertaking in any life, and we must continually pursue them, but today let’s focus on another character trait of Jesus. The disciple Matthew tells a story about when Jesus and the disciples were crossing over the Sea of Galilee. He said in Matthew 8:24, “Without warning, a furious storm came up…” Sound familiar? Had any furious storms come up in your life? Have any of them come without warning? In this case, the disciples panicked, and surprisingly, many of them were experienced fisherman!