This weekend was a great reminder of the many ways God has blessed me. For starters, my wife was away Friday and Saturday for the Women's Retreat at Camp CoBeAc. No, I don't mean that I was blessed by her absence. I was, however, reminded that I have a nice enough job that I'm able to take a day off for things like this without any repercussions. This afforded me an extra day to get a few things done outside of the office, and a chance to spend some quality time with my sons.
My wife came back the same person as when she left, but at the same time, there were differences that I could not help but notice. She was vibrant, alive; she had a renewed zeal for the Lord. She was bursting to tell me everything about her trip. She was suddenly full of new ideas for ministry. I've spent my last two evenings keeping my eyes open far later into the night than I had intended, listening to her talk about her experience. While I do admit that it can be rather tiring, it's also quite exciting for me to see how God is working in her life. In short, she has been empowered.
Why "empowered", you ask? You see, my wife has, for many years now, been living with an illness that continuously saps her energy. She has had to grudgingly accept that she is not able to do all the things she used to be able to do. Some days, she just has to adopt the "don't care" attitude, in order to keep her stress level down. There are even days when it's a struggle for her just to get out of bed in the morning. Consequently, she often feels used up, burned out, as though she is not able to successfully serve God with her life any longer. How thankful I am that God is not confined to the limitations of our own failed, human understanding!
There are two great lessons that God has taught me in the last year that apply to what I am beginning to see in my wife now. The first is that where God guides, He also provides. The second is that anything God asks you to do, He will empower you to do.
When I was moved by the Holy Spirit to go to Brazil last fall, I had no idea how I would get there. What little vacation time I had remaining for the year was already spoken for, and there was no way, what with me being over my head in debt, that I could afford the $1000+ required to get me there and back again. Somehow, God worked it all out for me. He took the worry away, and everything got scheduled and paid for. How foolish I was to think that the almighty God could be constrained by worldly things!
When I faced the prospect of going to Brazil, I was scared out of my wits. Before that trip, anytime anyone suggested to me anything at all having to do with missions, I ran the other direction. The old, worldly-minded man still inside me wanted nothing to do with getting on a plane to South America. However, God was right beside me through all the fear and doubt. When push came to shove, He even carried me. By making me totally dependent on Him, He empowered me to be something new for Him. How foolish I was to think that the almighty God could be constrained by my own shortcomings!
It is such a joy to see God working in a similar way with my wife. I love seeing how He can provide new strength for her. I love watching Him empower her to become something new for His purpose. I especially enjoyed watching her boldly take charge and lead the others who accompanied her in sharing testimony of their trip. It was as if God was saying,"I've given you a great helper in your mate. You just haven't fully realized it yet. Watch me work now, and you'll be amazed." Now that's a blessing! What a wonderfully awesome God we serve!
"And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." - Genesis 2:18
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." - Philippians 4:13
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