"encouragement with His word"

Only just yesterday, I get to meet my primary school teacher and 5 of my classmates, all from primary 6. That was when I realized that my teacher has been facing many difficulties. So I shared what I had learnt from sermons, my bible, and “Today God Is First”.

I told her that God created us, and He knows our limit. Any obstacles that are thrown at us are within our abilities. So we should not lose heart so easily, and we should persevere. Whatever happens is God’s plan, though we may not know what God’s plan for us is.

But what I forgot to tell her is that sometimes we when we start to think that we can handle things on our own, we push God aside. This is very common. Slowly, we will start to face many difficulties that we cannot handle, and we will have to learn to surrender to God and let Him take over our lives. When we learn to surrender to God, the stress on us is reduced.

I also forgot to tell her that now since she is at her weakest point, God presence and influence in her life will be even more than before. People will also witness God’s power through you once they see a sudden improvement in you. But of course, once we have made improvements by God’s grace and power, it is important to use that as a testimony of your faith in God rather than to claim credit for your improvements by your own efforts.

It is just like in John 11 when Jesus was told that Lazarus was sick. Lazarus was someone that Jesus loved, so he went to visit Lazarus. Being God, He knew that Lazarus was going to die, but He did not heal Lazarus like He healed the paralyzed, the blind, and those with leprosy. He actually stayed with Lazarus until he died, and then raised him from the dead. That was a miracle that could really catch people’s attention and let everyone witness God’s power and glory.

So what I learned? Hold back all the possible complaints I may have, for it is my weaknesses that God’s glory may be seen by all. My weaknesses will become His strength if only I surrender to Him and let Him take over me. And when I am strong, testify my faith in God. Pride gets in the way of God’s power working through me when I believe my successes came from my own efforts. Humility is what allows God’s power to work through us, and at the same time gain respect from others.