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Finite: Surrendering to God’s Infinite Power and Grace

DevotionalsMay 21, 2019May 21, 2019

We often forget our humanness. When we accept that we are limited and finite, God’s infinite power can work. It’s through Him we can do anything at all!

I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.
Ephesians 3:16, NLT

Confronted… face to face with my own limits.

After months of adding more, and more, and more to my plate, I finally hit the proverbial wall. Scrambling to evaluate what was important, pieces began to fall off with or without my permission… “But God! You brought me here. All of these things, You need ME to do.”

Confronted… face to face with my infinite Savior.

Finite

I am human which means I am finite. I am bound by limits, but often forget this truth until I’m facing the insurmountable. Until I’m facing circumstances and other humans out of my control.

I’ve overbooked my schedule – I cannot be in two places at once.

Here, put this hat on, this hat, and this hat – I cannot be all things to all people.

But you said you could last week – I cannot peer into the future ahead.

As I started coming to terms with my limited nature, I heard the Holy Spirit speak:

Let God be God. In His infinite power and mystery, let God work and move. Stop getting in the way. Stop trying to measure Him, put boundaries around Him. Nothing concocted by human minds or built by human hands can contain His sovereignty. Trust in His strength, His love, His forgiveness.

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.
Ephesians 3:17-18, NLT

Limited Humans

In order to completely accept my finite nature, I must also recognize the limited nature of my fellow humans. I cannot hold others to God-like infinitude but must remember the grace and love of the One.

Because we are relational creatures, we focus on what other humans can supply… we rely on others to fill our gaps; forgetting it’s only through His power and glory that any other human can provide anything for anyone. Only HE can supply all we need and lack.

For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.
Romans 11:36, NLT

Intricate

We are so intricately woven together as His beloved children. He created every working and operating part in our bodies, but left one major component that ONLY He can touch… our souls.

How often have I tried to fill the void in my own soul? How often have I tried to be the savior of another’s? ONLY God’s infinite and immeasurable love can cover the multitude of darkness in our human hearts and souls.

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Ephesians 3:19, NLT

Infinite

Praise God! He is infinite… He is never-ending, never-changing, constant and stable.

‘I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,’ says the Lord God. ‘I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.’
Revelation 1:8, NLT

Who can figure out our Mighty God?? Our finite minds cannot fathom. Our will is minuscule… we cannot move the oceans or bend the wind. We cannot command the skies or the mountains to rise.

Take a long, hard look. See how great he is—infinite, greater than anything you could ever imagine or figure out!
Job 36:26, MSG

We may appoint man to rule, but only One is appointed to take on the limitless depths of sin. ONLY ONE is crowned the limitless Savior of the world and beyond.

Praise God! He is infinite… He is never-ending, never-changing, constant and stable. Only He has overcome the limitless depths of sin and been crowned the limitless Savior of the world. Click To Tweet

Surrender

My Savior blankets me in the grace that only He can give. Over and over He pours out tenderness to my depleted nature. When I strive to be all, see all, know all, do it all in my strength He’s waiting. Waiting for His Beloved to finally surrender. Surrender to His unlimited nature beyond fathom…

God fills and sustains. He inflates our lungs to speak Truth. He ignites our hearts and sets fire to OUR plans. His Spirit dances inside us as we lose ourselves to God’s overwhelmingly infinite love.

Now glory be to God, who by his mighty power at work within us is able to do far more than we would ever dare to ask or even dream of—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes.
Ephesians 3:20, TLB

Have you come to terms with your own limits? Have you surrendered to God and His infinitude?

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Reliable: Trusting Our Unchanging God in a Swirling World

Devotionals, Stay SaneOctober 31, 2018January 13, 2019

While our world is ever-changing, we serve a God who is reliable and never changing. He can be trusted for He is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

Swirling Thoughts

Yesterday was not my finest hour. If I am honest, this hasn’t been my greatest week either. My son Evan and I are living in Philadelphia while he undergoes a bone marrow transplant. To say I am over it just does not do the whole experience justice. He arrived September 4^th to begin chemo, while I arrived September 11^th to be here during the transplant and for the rest of the treatment. Going in, we knew this would be a 3-month process here in Philly. I knew that.

But… 3 months in my head and 3 months in real time are just not the same. The days have gotten long. The room has started to close in. Evan has gotten bored. We both miss the rest of our family. And, I have been feeling it coming all week. The tears, the anxiety, the pressing grief from being away from all I know that is familiar. It has been a tough week.

Feeling Overwhelmed

As part of our exit from the hospital, I have to learn how to flush his line. So, there’s a lot of new vocabulary in the hospital. Line. Broviac. Flush. It has all been very overwhelming. Needless to say, I don’t function well under stress. I’m pretty sure nobody does. But, here I was in a class trying to process how to keep Evan’s central line flushed and in good shape and I melted into a puddle of tears.

I had texted several of my praying friends right before I entered the room for teaching to ask them to pray. The prospect of leaving the hospital was scaring me to death. I knew I needed the prayers. Within 5 minutes, the teacher had decided I needed more time to process all of this information. She was going to advocate for a slower pace. I was greatly relieved, but still super embarrassed to have gotten so upset.

Change is Hard

Change. I’m not a fan. I remember a day my college roommate moved our furniture around without telling me. It felt like grounds for moving immediately. The past month has been “change” overload and I am resisting it like crazy. I like sameness, sure, and steady. This experience here, waiting to see if my son’s health will improve, has been a rollercoaster of change. A new drug every day. Constant monitoring so doctors can decide if he needs a new drug. I had to change rooms this week so Evan could have his own shower. Did I mention I hate change? But, I am in a world that is always changing; that is never the same.

I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.

John 16:33, NIV

He is Unchanging

I left the hospital for a breather and when I returned, I headed for the elevator. I glanced to my right and there was another mom with the same look on her face. Weary. Scared. Tears down her face. As we stepped on the elevator, I just quietly asked if I could pray for her. She gave me her name and I just asked Our Father for His care. His comfort. His help.

As I am struggling here, my emotions are fighting with my head on a constant basis. There is change all around me, but He has not changed. He is reliable, constant and steady.

There is change all around us, but God has not changed. He is reliable, constant and steady. Click To Tweet

He is Reliable

I’ve mentioned before that I like to put up scripture during difficult seasons as a way to remind my heart of what is true. Before we left South Carolina, I had been given some cards to open here in Philly as a way of encouragement for the long journey. One dear friend had put verses on index cards within her card and I have put the scriptures all over my room. I have a constant reminder that God is not changing, ever reliable, even if the whole of my world is swirling non-stop.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Hebrews 13:8, NIV

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Constant: Hopeful in the Waiting Because Jesus is Unchanging

Devotionals, Stay SaneJune 11, 2018September 8, 2019

Hope is challenging when our lives are full of waiting. Jesus is our hope and deliverer even when nothing may ever change. He is our constant.

My friend had a broken heart. I’m done she wrote. Done praying, hoping, waiting. What kind of father allows his children to suffer and hurt when he has the power to change and heal hearts? He hides behind this idea that we are to learn lessons and become stronger. It’s cruel and I want no part of it.

As I read my friend’s words, I knew I too had felt these very thoughts and more as I suffered through long periods of waiting. What is a believer to do in the midst of extreme despair? As believers our only answer is hope.

He is Our Hope

The weight of situations have left me feeling broken, alone, vulnerable, and angry. While listening to preachers talk about peace and comfort and better times, I have rarely connected better times with being in God’s presence. I know I have attributed better times with better circumstances; the problem would be resolved and the weight would fall off. Yet, Scripture is full of those who saw long times of waiting. Moses in the desert – not one time but twice, Joseph in prison, and David in hiding. And us his church waiting for his return. If I am honest, I do not want to be one of the waiting. I want to be one of the delivered.

How can I find hope and even believe there is anything to hope for in the face of so much pain? In the face of impossible situations and ones that may not change?

He is Our Deliverer

Hebrews 11, while it speaks of so many who were faithful and saw victory, also talks about suffering, mocking, flogging, sawn in two, stoned, killed by the sword. Destitute, afflicted, mistreated- of whom the world was unworthy. While many today want to make Jesus into some wise teacher, He is and was so much more.

He is the great deliverer. For some, that will be here on earth. They will see healing and change. But, many may never see deliverance until heaven. Regardless of when the hope that we long for is fulfilled, we can all stand sure of one thing- His presence. He has promised us His presence. Jesus said he was sending us a comforter. What does that mean but that we would require comfort? This world has trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world.

Regardless of when the hope that we long for is fulfilled, we can all stand sure of one thing- His presence. Click To Tweet

He is Our Constant

I can see the weight of worry and despair fall off because He is my peace, who has broken down every wall. My problem will not go away. Some of my worries may never get better or even change until I walk the gates of heaven. But, He is constant. I can trust him with my agony knowing that He too, understands what it is like to suffer. I can lay my despair at the feet of Jesus and know if not now, then one day all will be redeemed. All will be made new. All will be as He intended.

Jesus too, suffered knowing that the only relief would be the cross. I can take comfort that in whatever I face He, who knew no sin, suffered in my place so that I will not face eternity with no hope. This is a different kind of hope than the one who does not know Jesus, our great high priest who, though was tempted, was without sin. I will forget this truth often and I hope that I can reach out to those who will gently remind me of what is good and true. I can pray and take time to train my heart to remember and meditate on His constancy.

Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:3, NIV

eberhard grossgasteiger