our fearless (3 year old!!) Cooper, cliff-jumping on vacation
The challenge seems insurrmountable; the hill too big to climb, the group to big to connect, the family too broken to heal.
It can be tempting to make the burden ours, seeing not only the triumph as ours–but the toil as well. Surely as the sun rises earliest in the heat of Summer, I want to take credit for the victory. And, because I’m a striving creature by nature, I mistakenly long to feel the weight of the burden and work as mine, too. Seems like a fair trade, very American, you have to do the work to claim the win.
There is no life in that, though, ultimately. And no grace. Do you know the end result of the work=win mentality? It is a stress-filled life, where when things go wrong you fret and flounder, when things go right you bloat with pride.
Instead, I remember a story of a little boy who overcame a beast of a man. That ten-foot-tall beast of a man had set forth a challenge that no one was eager to take on. The risks were too high, death was surely the only outcome of this fight. But, a small and lowly underdog emerged, one who was uniquely qualified. He had been faithful with little, when no one important was watching–tending to his elderly father and protecting the sheep of his herd. Because of his appointment, the youngest son in a long line of sons, he had stayed behind from war and learned valuable skills and confidence.
he still recalls this brave feat as the highlight of his trip
It is said that David killed Goliath with just one stone. Slung heavy into the forehead of the ten-foot giant, David’s one stone did the unthinkable. Some would argue that God needed just one stone to overcome this giant-man. But, it is more true that God didn’t need a stone at all…He could have taken Goliath and his whole Philistine army out with a plague or a storm.
But, it is also true that David was loved deeply by His Creator. Lowly and little David was put in a family of all boys, just like my little brood. Being in a family of many boys, you’re more likely to be handed a bat and a ball than a silver spoon. Maybe David got a slingshot?
No, God didn’t need the stone. And God didn’t even need David. But, God is a gracious Creator–building the greatest story that ever was. Because of God’s deep love for David, He invited him into the story–giving him a huge responsibility and a place in history.
The same could be said for our responsibilities, goals, and dreams–both big and small. In my weak moments, I recall myself as a small child. I so clearly see God as a parent juggling so many things and myself as a small girl, trying so hard to accomplish. While I’m focusing on my work and the task at hand, my Father is walking just a half-step ahead of me–watching out, ready to catch the bag of groceries or the cup of milk should it spill to the floor. Because He is so gracious, He will not scold us when we the milk sloshes over the rim. He encourages us to continue to steward the milk that remains in the cup, more carefully.
people who love him rushed to him with encouragement and excitement
Because I love my sons, and it gives them a sense of pride and belonging, I allow them to do jobs that would be easier accomplished myself. I ask them to do things that seem more than they can do. Doing this work builds their confidence and it builds their strength–and it also builds their trust in me. God does the same thing for us. We would be wise not to allow our perception of our confidence or our strength to grow beyond our confidence in the strength of God. Confidence in our own strength is never what God has intended for us to grow fond of, because over-confidence breeds pride and an ungrateful heart.
When the task seems much too large–remember that you aren’t needed anyway. You aren’t needed (and thank GOODNESS for that!), but you are deeply loved and most wanted. You have been gifted this opportunity to do kingdom work with God–work He could have more easily accomplished Himself. However, what a gift He gives us to allow us a place of belonging in His kingdom and His story.
Do you have a David-and-Goliath thing in your life right now? Something that’s really exciting, but can easily turn into ugly-pride or stressful-toil?
I do! To be honest, right now, The Influence Conference is down to the nitty-gritty details and the final counts and budget numbers. Each night feels like a come-to-Jesus moment–just trusting that He won’t let us spill the whole cup of milk! My early morning wakefulness (my trusting in myself and toiling) this morning prompted me to prayer–which lead to this post.