Isn't it amazing how God works. Often in our weakness rather than our strength. It doesn't mean we shouldn't use our strengths, our gifts, our uniqueness. God made us all of who we are and made us to live for His glory. But, often in our weakness, we feel stuck. Flustered. Without our superpowers. Often, without hope. But, that is where God finds us.
Our eight year old son joined our family four months ago. His nickname in Burundi means "the strong one." And, he owned it. He showed us his muscles every day for awhile. He lifted things up and carried them over his head. "Oliver strong," were frequent words early on. He truly identified as the strong one.
So, from the beginning, we've had conversations about being strong. We told him that being strong isn't bad. But, being strong isn't where we find our worth. Being strong isn't what earns you keep in our family. Being strong isn't why you are loved. That being strong isn't where we find our identity. We told him that sometimes being strong keeps us from putting others first, allows us to use others for our own interests. We've told him that sometimes being weak and being last allows us to see Jesus in new ways.
Then, this week he received news after x-rays on his arms. Bones in his forearms are curved rather than straight...most likely from carrying too heavy loads as a young child while he was still developing. This strong one, our son, literally could have his future altered because of his physical strength and the way he used it during his life as an orphan, trying to be strong, trying to take care of others around him, trying to prove his worth. And, now, his strength turns into his weakness. Without some reversals as his bones finish growing, he will never be able to reach his full potential for strength as a man. Isn't that just how life goes?
And, yet, God sees us in those moments. When everything is stripped away. When our identity feels incomplete. When what we thought was ours to claim is suddenly gone. He reaches down and whispers, "I am your strength." He rescues us. He rescues us in our weakness. He rescues us in our strength. He rescues us in our humanity, when we think we can make it on our own. When we think we are strong enough. When we are carrying loads that are too heavy. Our Father in Heaven...He is the Strong One.
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