In Our Weakness
What a fun Sunday it was! Filling up the sanctuary to celebrate in worship, welcoming guests and celebrating a pair of baptisms together! We got to hear from former Pastor Tom Hamilton as he congratulated us on 250 years and shared some beautiful memories of his ministry among us – that was a gift.
There was a lot going on Sunday, so much so that I got a little upside down at some point, calling Justin (Harbison), father of Emery, our first beautiful baby girl baptized at 8:30, Josh (Kozak), father of Tess, our second beautiful baby girl baptized later at 11:00. Thankfully, Cheryl caught me afterwards, I was able to apologize and we all got a good laugh – Justin is a gracious guy!
But in reflecting on that moment, I’m reminded of my own weakness. Yep, I mess up. And yep, I have real, human limitations that when I try to extend myself beyond… well, it just doesn’t end well. We all do. None of us have inexhaustible resources. We have a finite amount of time and energy and tools and finances. And in some ways, the sooner we figure that out, the sooner we get to the end of our own selves, the sooner we recognize our limitations… the sooner we can start relying on the One who doesn’t have any limitations, whose power is inexhaustible, who actually perfects us. But as long as we only rely on ourselves, we’ll never experience that.
I think about that in so many different ways and I was reading a book by a pastor from Ohio (for my monthly clergy reading group), who said – “God loves meeting us in our weaknesses, for its then that God’s grace can shine through.”
Are you feeling your own weakness? Have you run up against, or even crossed over your own limitations – physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually – are you stretched and perplexed and not sure of the way out?
How about we pray?
The above quote was in a section that the author, Joe Graves, was talking about Breakthrough Prayer – the idea that there are prayers where we request God to breakthrough in some area of our lives, recognizing we’ve come to the end of our own selves and need God. It’s certainly an area of growth for me, where I’m continually being reminded that God doesn’t force himself on me… but God promised to respond when I ask.
I invite you to ask.
And I invite you, in the asking, in the receiving, to discover God’s love in a new way, and to grow more and more into the likeness of Jesus Christ!
Welcoming You to Grow in Jesus – made strong as we accept our weaknesses,
Pastor Don