by Kelly Dixon
Reading: Judges 7
As she was walking to her car after work, she continued to think of the things she didn't accomplish during the day. "No time to think about that," she exclaimed to herself, "I have to just keep going. I have too many people counting on me." She began to feel the burden of the remainder of the day. The children still needed to be picked up from school and their homework done. The house was a wreck and there was still those clothes on the bed that needed to be sorted. Some needed to be put away and some needed to be hauled away. Then there was supper, "What do I have in the freezer?" She then exclaimed to herself, "Oh great, nothing! I have nothing at home to cook for tonight. I have to go by the grocery store also!" The anxiety that she felt on a daily basis began to rush through her body and she had to suppress the feelings. "There is just too much to do. I can't continue thinking about the things I need to do. I just hope I can get the children in bed on time or I will be dragging them out in the morning." She then began to feel the guilt about everyday life overwhelming her so much that she had not been able to spend time with the Lord - really spend time with the Lord. Not just reading her Bible so she can say she did it, but really focusing on what she was reading and how to apply it to her life. Then there is Sally. Oh no! She forgot to pray for Sally today when she promised her she would! Oh God, what am I going to do! I have no time for Your people. I have no time for You!Does this scenario sound familiar? Change a few details and I am sure I describe the feelings that many women have on a daily basis. It is the feeling that we have too much to do and not enough time to do it. No matter the age, we all struggle with the feelings of being disappointed in ourselves. I know these feelings oh too well. It is the feeling of failure at being a wife, mother, daughter, friend and employee. It is the feeling of being a failure to the Lord! Disappointment in ourselves is a feeling the enemy uses to overcome many women so they will not reach their full potential for the Lord. Charles Stanley states the following about disappointment in his workbook companion to his book, Landmines in the Path of a Believer:
"The enemy will try to plant disappointments along your path and get you to respond emotionally to what appears to be a failure in reaching your expectations and desires. You can tell if the enemy has been successful in wounding you because you have discouragement in your life. When you're disheartened, you lose your motivation for the things that usually bring fulfillment and purpose."
Many of us place high expectations upon ourselves. We feel like a failure on many occasions because we are unable to reach those expectations. We think we can do it all and if we ask for help then we are failing ourselves. The reality is, we aren't superwoman and we can't do it all. The Lord doesn't expect us to either.
As I was preparing for this part of the faith series, I kept thinking of large life decisions when God asks us to take great risks in our lives. Then I realized that as discouraged women we have a problem with taking risks on a different scale because we don't want to risk asking others to help us. When we do we have the risks of looking like a failure to others; burdening others with our problems; not being able to do things the way we want to do them; etc. The list can go on and on. When we reach out to others for help we are at risk of many things. However, this is exactly the lesson the Lord may be trying to teach us. Looking over many of the well loved stories in the Bible we see that God called many of His children to take risks by stepping out on faith. Rahab, who we will study about in our mini Bible study, took many risks when she housed men who were scouting out her town to destroy it. Moses, who we spoke of last week, took a risk by even approaching Pharaoh's throne with the request from God. However, Gideon took a risk by following God's instructions to eliminate the number of men for his army. And it is Gideon's story that we look at for the basis of why God wants us to take risks for Him. The Lord told Gideon to eliminate the number of men who are to fight because, “. . .You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her,” (Judges 7:2) The Lord was teaching them that He is the One Who will bring the victory. This is the lesson He is teaching us today. As women, we put too much reliance on our own strength to do the daily tasks of life. When in reality God wants us to take the risk of asking for help because it is through taking this risk that we are allowing Him to work through our lives. When we do things on our own we begin to think that we are the source of our strength and that we can handle all that comes our way. Reality, we cannot do anything on our own. Even having the good health to get out of bed in the morning is a blessing from God.
Are you discouraged and not wanting to take the risk to ask for help? God wants to reach out to us through the loving arms of the ones He has placed in our lives. He wants to give them the opportunity to be obedient to Him by assisting in the need. When we don't take the risk, then He is unable to show us His love in this manner. Just like He eliminated men from Gideon's army, He wants to eliminate things from our lives that keep us from seeing His strength. Ask the Father how you are standing in the way of Him being glorified through your regular activities. Request that He give you wisdom of how you should take risks that strengthen your faith in Him and ultimately strengthen the relationships between His children.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, why do I get myself into this situation where I feel disappointed and discouraged? Please give me the wisdom to know how to overcome this in my life so that I can bring glory to You by allowing You to strengthen me. Amen.
Deepening The Walk Mini Bible Study: This faith series is being accompanied with mini Bible studies for further in depth study. When Ladies for Jesus offers these type studies we call them “Deepening The Walk.” It is our prayer that you use this extra material to assist you in deepening your walk with the Lord. Deepening The Walk Mini Bible Study page.
