April 17, 2011
“Wherefore, lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees—and make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but, let it rather be healed.”
Hebrews 12:12-13
Doubts disable and discouragement depletes; but resting in the Lord will renew, enabling us to “fight the good fight, finish the course and keep the faith” (II Tim. 4:7).
Have you ever noticed how much energy you have when you’re excited about something? It’s amazing! It matters not whether it’s a long-awaited vacation to an exotic place. . .a fishing trip to a remote lake where the “monster lunker” awaits you. . .the “big day” for starting a new job or new life together with your heartmate.
No one has to give you a pep talk or a pill to get you going.
You’re alive. Full of vim and vigor. Running on all cylinders. Rarin’ to go.
And, dear Pilgrim, the same should be true for us if the Risen Lord truly lives within our hearts.
Truly, if we “wait upon the Lord we’ll renew our strength. We’ll mount up with wings as eagles. We’ll run and not grow weary; walk and not faint” (Is. 40:31).
Why, then, do we so often “grow weary in well-doing and faint in our mind” (Gal. 6:9)?
It’s simply because we’ve been trying to do things in our own strength; or, we’ve allowed the devilish weeds of doubt and discouragement to spring up. . .zapping our zest and zeal. . .and stealing our joy and peace-of-mind.
But, it need not be—not when we’re pardoned, adopted children of the Heavenly Father, Who’s promised to “supply all of our needs according to His richest in Glory by Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19)!
Has He not said “My Grace is sufficient for you” (II Cor. 12:9a)? Has He not promised that His “strength would be made perfect in our weakness” (v.9b) and He’d “be strong when we are weak” (v.10b)?
Most assuredly He has.
That’s why we must continually “offer to Him the sacrifice of praise on the altar of our lips” (Jer. 33:11; Heb. 13:15) as we “give thanks in ALL things” (I Thess. 5:18). He never said “all things would be good;” but, He did say He would “work all things together FOR GOOD to those who love Him and are the called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28).
Just as David went from lamenting “No man cares for my soul” (Ps. 142:4) to “encouraging (Heb. ‘chazaq’—‘to seize, be strong, repair, fortify, conquer, be obstinate, etc.’) himself in the Lord” (I Sam. 30:6), so must we “lift up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees and make straight paths for our feet.” No one else will do it for us; we must “cast down those imaginations (and feelings) that discourage us and capture our thoughts by bringing them to Jesus’ feet” (II Cor. 10:5). Then, we must “make straight paths for our feet, lest those coming behind us lose their way.” This isn’t the time for weak-willed warriors, wobbly knees or wandering feet. Now is the time for stout-hearted soldiers, Pilgrim. Get to work.
