A Call To The Remnant

As a people, Americans in general are self-sufficient. It was one of the first things I admired about them when I moved to Kansas from Scotland. It seemed that no matter what obstacle they faced, they came up with a solution by their own resources and by their own hand. I have no doubt whatsoever that living in the vast plains of North America for the last couple of centuries only enhanced their abilities to come up with solutions to problems that would typically require a new part or a replacement. These things were usually weeks away.

This, I would suggest, is a blessing and a curse. The self-sufficiency of man may work very well in the world, but in the realms of the Spirit it serves to hinder us. This is a nuanced problem as it requires balance as do almost all things in life whether in the world or in the Spirit and the balance would be to be self-sufficient and resourceful in the world but in the Spirit be completely reliant upon God. The problem is that when we are self-sufficient in life, we tend to have less “need,” for God. And as we have less need for Him we begin to drift away, slowly but surely.

For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life 2Co 1:8. It seems that the Apostle Paul is learning dependence upon God at levels few of us ever have to.

The Apostle Paul, a man esteemed above most others in the Christian world, here, with remarkable transparency and raw honesty tells us that he despaired even of life. Have you ever been so desperate and so in the depths of despair that you thought you might die? It seems strangely out-of-place in our modern world of heroes who valiantly face each and every danger with stoic strength and immovability. Yet, the ability of recognizing our dependence upon God is our very strength and the greater you are tested in this the deeper is your depth in Him.

And so trials and tribulation and sufferings tend to hammer home our need for God. We are told that we will not be tempted more than we are able and that the Lord would give us a way of escape. Many folks tend to think this means that we will avoid the very situation that Paul is speaking of in the above Scripture. Yet here the eminent Apostle Paul himself finds himself seemingly tempted more than he was able, so much so he despaired of life itself. The overall situation was above and beyond his capability and strength, spiritual or otherwise. Does this then contradict the Scripture that He would never tempt us more than we are able? Not at all, He has given us a way of escape, God Himself is our way of escape.

Maybe you find yourself in a place where you are in despair? You cannot see a way ahead. You cannot fix something no matter how resourceful and self-sufficient you are. No friends or loved ones can help, your pastor cannot help. God is your way of escape this day. He and He alone is your life-line. Fall upon Him today and humble yourself by acknowledging, just like Paul, that you are in despair. You will discover that the Lord your God is faithful. He is calling out to you and He is drawing you in, deeper into His heart. Will you take His hand this day and lay down your burdens?