Wednesday, March 14, 2007

God, Give me Strength!


I once heard a story about a little boy that was trying so hard to move a large log in the yard. His father stood by watching and no matter how hard the boy tried, he couldn't move the log. The dad says to the boy, "You're not using all your strength," at which the boy stated he was giving it all he had! The boys dad quietly says, "No you're not son, I'm standing right here and you haven't ask me for help."

I'm reminded of two verses when I hear this story. One verse reminds me of how important God is to my success and achievements in my life, and the other reminds me of how important good friends are to my success and achievements in my life.

Philippians 3:14 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!"

You see the story above is a perfect example of how we go out head strong and with good intentions to accomplish a task, but unfortunately in our own strength we just can't get it done. It's amazing how hard we can work at something and struggle and struggle with it and still fail to ask for help from the One that has all the power and strength to accomplish all things. We should never forget that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
Often my work can be overwhelming. Too much to do and not enough time to do it all. So often pressures of the day can catch up with me to the point I feel like throwing up my hands. When this happens, and it does sometimes, I simply ask God for His help. So often I try to move the logs on my agenda by myself, and just like the little boy, I forget to ask for help and my Father is always close by and patiently waiting for me to simply say... Help me, please! It's when we finally acknowledge our weakness and ask for His help that we resign to the fact that we must depend on God. We're saying... "God, I can't do it without You!" Then He will reach out and support us and help us through whatever we are going through.

The story also reminds me of how important my friends are to me. Whether it's friends we have at work, church, or even in our family, life is easier and much more rewarding when you have someone to help you through it. Basically this verse, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, reminds me that I don't have to do it all by myself. Two heads are better than one and the return on our work will be good. But the best part comes in verse 10. "If one falls down, his friend can help him up." When I read this verse I think about the terrible falls I've had. The falls we have can sometimes devastate us, the loss of loved ones, sicknesses and illnesses that change the course of our lives, divorce or damaged relationships and the hurt and pain that goes along with that, loss of jobs, and the list goes on and on.
God has given us friends to help us back up when life knocks us down. We need to be aware of how important our friends are and remember it's worth the effort to cultivate those relationships, because as the rest of the verse says... "But, pity the man who falls and has no one to pick him up!"

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, help me to always be mindful that Your help is always available. All I have to do is ask and You will help me through whatever I'm going through. Thank you Lord for my good friends, I know that when I fall, I have people that love and care about me and they are always there to help me back up. Amen.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Was reading your blog and i found this phares so meaningful. Pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up.
Now in my life i have a great fall, there people that care about me like my family and relative but they just don't know how i feel deep in my heart.i wish god know and lead me a way.
Even myself also not sure what make me so upset and feel like my world is ending when i was only 21 this year.
btw i not a christian but i believe in god word and power.
but now it just don't work. life is like darkness no hope no desire and even now no dream for my future.
Pls Advice me if you got to see this comments...

Steve said...

To the anonymous person that left me your comments I ask you to read my post titled... Unwanted Child.

May God bless you, Steve