There are times in our life when
responsibilities seem to be overwhelming. We are frustrated and discouraged
because we aren’t “there” yet. We aren’t intelligent, healthy, rich, popular, capable
or a nice as we feel we should be. There is not one thing wrong with wanting to
be better or become a better person. As Elder Uchtdorf[1]
said, “God created us to grow and progress. But
remember, our weaknesses can help us to be humble and turn us to Christ, who
will “make weak things become strong.”[2]
Satan, on the other hand, uses our weaknesses to the point that we are
discouraged from even trying.”
We need to be valiant in
our testimony of God and willing to become the person He wants us to be.
Gideon felt he was the bottom of
the barrel in status as he referred to himself as “the least in my father’s
house”[3].
But the angel of the Lord called him a “mighty man of valour.”[4]
He told Gideon that he would save Israel from the might of the Midianites. I
thought it was interesting that Gideon didn’t say no I can’t do this, he asked
for a sign that this was really an angel from God speaking to him. When his
offering was consumed by fire he knew the LORD was speaking to him.
Gideon called up an army to fight
the Midianites who had come into the valley to fight. Gideon then reduced it to
300 men as the LORD commanded. He followed the LORD’s commands and with lamps
in pitchers, horns, and the shout, “The sword of the LORD, and of Gideon” he
won the night after surrounding the enemy, then breaking the pitchers and
shouting. The men in confusion ran their swords into each other and then fled. Afterward
lots of the men of Israel started running after the Midianites.
Gideon always knew the LORD had
directed his efforts and refused to be a king of the country when invited to do
so. He had a strong understanding of just who really won the day.
We need to see ourselves as God
does and how He wants us to change and who He wants us to be. And then of
course we need to go do it.
I really doubt I will ever be called upon to fight a huge army but sometimes the jobs I take on seem to be overwhelming and way too much to handle. I need to have the "valour" that Gideon showed and have faith and trust in God to accomplish those goals.
