How Can I?

“The angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth at Ophrah, which belonged to Joash, while his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the winepress to hide it from the Midianites. And the angel of the Lord appeared and said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, O mighty man of valor.’ Gideon said to him, ‘Please, my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers recounted to us?.. But now the Lord has forsaken us and given us into the hand of Midian.’ The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?’ And he said to him, ‘Please, Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.’ And the Lord said to him, ‘But I will be with you, and you shall strike the Midianites as one man.'” Judges 6:11-16

Gideon’s call was nothing extraordinary. God used ordinary individuals to do extraordinary things for His people. Resistance to a mandate from the Almighty was natural too, as fallible men wondered how they could do what required supernatural strength. Coming from a limited human perspective and wrong assumptions about God, they were justified having concern and doubt. But patiently the Lord strove with His leaders to teach and train and transform them in faith, by His presence. Their every ‘how can I?’ would become ‘He can!’ (Exodus 3:7-14; 4:10-13)

God’s presence more than matches our powerlessness. In fact, our very questioning gives Him opportunity to change our thinking, and personal weakness is the scenario that manifests His greatness most powerfully. We want specific tools and capabilities, He says, ‘My presence is enough.’ We bring doubts and fears to Him, He patiently answers with solid promises we can apprehend by faith. Before He does the extraordinary with us, He will work His extraordinary within us until it is no longer I, but Christ in me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Galatians 2:20)

Where are we shying away from opportunities the Lord has set before us to be involved in His kingdom work? Where are we questioning His goodness, sovereignty, and call? What excuses do we make not to obey? When will we turn from doubting self to relying on Him? In what specific ways will we step out in faith and trust His presence, ability, and promises?

“The night is dark, but I am not forsaken
For by my side, the Saviour He will stay
I labour on in weakness and rejoicing
For in my need, His power is displayed

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me
Through the deepest valley He will lead
Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome!
Yet not I, but through Christ in me

With every breath, I long to follow Jesus
For my life is wholly bound to him
And day by day I know He will renew me
Until I stand with joy before the throne

To this I hold, my hope is only Jesus
All the glory evermore to Him
When the race is complete, still my lips shall repeat:
Yet not I, but through Christ in me!” ~Michael Farren, Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson

Lord, turn my ‘I can’t’s to bold ‘You can!’s, for Your glory