One of the biggest things I have wrestled with in my faith as a Christian is a feeling of helplessness. It’s something very foreign to me. You see, when I was living in my own world, there was nothing I couldn’t do on my own. If I needed more money for something, I would work harder and make it. If I needed something I didn’t have, I could usually afford to buy it. If I wasn’t happy with my relationships, I could just drop them and find someone better. Sure, I had some times of stress, but they were brief and fleeting and I just picked myself up and set out to do what needed to be done.
As a Christian, this is difficult. If I need something that requires money I don’t have, I can’t just go work harder to get it if God has other plans for me. I can’t leave ministry to go work if I believe I am to trust in God for his provision and stay faithful to the work he has called me to, even if I can’t get what I want or what I think I need. I have to trust that he knows better than I do as to what I need--that if I truly need anything, he will provide it for me.
There are times like today, where everything in my self wants to run for the hills, screaming about how unjust life is because of things that appear to be burdens on me as I press on to make our monthly youth ministry event happen tomorrow night. I’m feeling overwhelmed and taken advantage of. However, it is times such as this where I turn my focus to God and pray and ask for his strength within me, his focus, his passion, his love, his excellence. When things aren’t under my control and resources I think I need aren’t available, it’s easy for me to feel helpless. Funny thing is, God has shown me time-after-time that this is exactly where he wants me. In times such as these, I am continually reminded that ministry is not by my own might. In times of helplessness, God is there and ready to act on my prayers. It’s not about my expectations or my efforts, but about God’s plan and purpose and trusting that as he is the author, who am I to try and re-write the story. When we feel helpless, with Christ Jesus in our reach it is not hopeless.
Father God, thank you for all that you do through your people. Thank you for your Holy Spirit within us to comfort us and give us peace in times likes these. Your will is going to be done; cause us to step aside and have the hope in you that you seek from us. Lord, you will prevail tomorrow and teens will come to seek and find you in the midst of the worldy problems and helplessness. May we all come to brokenness so that we have no choice except to rely on you as you are God. Thank you for my friends whom you sent to encourage me as I seek to do your work. Thank you for my friends that allow me to help encourage them through their times of helplessness. May we always remember that feeling helpless is not cause for us to feel hopeless, for through you all things are possible. In the name of Jesus, amen.
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