“When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied, “but if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” “Pardon me, my lord,” Gideon replied…” Judges 6:12-19
Know who God says you are, not who you feel, think, or have been told.
I love the story of Gideon because I feel like I can relate to him. For many years, because of my surroundings and upbringing, I believed the lie of never being able to accomplish anything in life, along with many other lies. I know many people who struggle to accept the TRUTH of who God has called us to be. Like Gideon, God can send people our way to declare and call us a “mighty warrior.” And we can easily dismiss it, or it can cause us to question God. For instance, take this dialogue for example…
God: “You are so loved and special! You are worth dying for.”
Us: “Then why was I abandoned and abused as a child?”
As if our circumstances, influence or exemplify the love God has for us. Or what about this one…
God: “I have called you for greater and better things.”
Us; “How can you use me? I have nothing to offer. I’m not wise or adequate with my words.”
Or
God: “I want you to go into full missions.” “I’m calling you overseas.”
Us: “Have you seen my finances? How can I get up and go anywhere without being financially secure.”
Using excuses like Moses and Gideon, as if God depends on our qualifications to use us.
But you know what I really love about God. Even in our doubts and questioning, He turns toward us, not away. So tenderly, he responds with an encouraging question….
“Am I not….
The Alpha and Omega
The first and the last
The beginning and the end – Revelations 22:13
The great I AM (Exodus 3:14)”
Like I always tell my eight-year-old, we can not control our situation, but we can control how we respond… so how will YOU respond to God?