Doing What's Hard

READ:   "The Messenger of Yahweh came and sat under the oak tree in Ophrah that belonged to Joash from Abiezer’s family. Joash’s son Gideon was beating out wheat in a winepress to hide it from the Midianites.  The Messenger of Yahweh appeared to Gideon and said, “Yahweh is with you, brave man.”  Gideon responded, “Excuse me, sir! But if Yahweh is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the miracles our ancestors have told us about? Didn’t they say, ‘Yahweh brought us out of Egypt?’ But now Yahweh has abandoned us and has handed us over to Midian.”Yahweh turned to him and said, “You will rescue Israel from Midian with the strength you have. I am sending you.” Gideon said to him, “Excuse me, sir! How can I rescue Israel? Look at my whole family. It’s the weakest one in Manasseh. And me? I’m the least important member of my family.”  Yahweh replied, “I will be with you. You will defeat Midian as if it were only one man.”  

Judges 6:11-16

THINK:  Sometimes God asks us to do things that seem too hard for us.  It might be a big thing like helping a friend who is making bad choices; it might be a difficult class at school; it might even be something as simple as turning off the TV during the Media Fast!  But in each case, it feels like what we need to do is just too hard.

When we feel like what God wants us to do is too hard, that is our chance to increase our trust in His power.  God gave Gideon a job that he thought was way too hard for him, but God promised Gideon that He would be with him.  And God promises that He will be with us, too!  So when you are faced with something that seems too hard for you, remember that God is with you and trust in His power.

DO:  What do you need to do today (or this week) that seems too big for you?  Remind yourself that God will give you the power for that task, then pray that your faith will increase as you see God give you His power.