I literally laughed when I watched this video! Its true, you know, nobody has it all together! But don’t we all buy into a lie that a certain someone in our lives surely has it all together all the time?
For me it is my friend Susan*. If Susan reads this she would roll her eyes and probably start crying but I look at her and I think she has it all together all the time. I’ve heard her stories of times in her life when she didn’t appear so put together but when I look at her life now it is hard to imagine any of those things were ever true.
Let’s just start with her family. She has a precious husband. It almost makes you sick to watch the two of them together. They are crazy about each other. I’m certain they never fight or have a disagreement. And though her children are great, they aren’t perfect and that only makes me feel worse about the absolutely fantastic mother Susan is. She seems to have an endless supply of patience. She’s ultra-laid back and her kids eat vegetables!
We shouldn’t talk about how pretty she is. Her hair always looks just right and her eye makeup has a smokey eye look EVERY TIME I see her! She dresses cute, eats well and exercises.
I could probably deal with all of those things and have my identity securely in place were it not for her sincere love for Jesus! She really loves Jesus. When I think of living on mission, I think of Susan. Every time I’m with her I feel convicted, not because she preaches at me but because of her passion for the lost.
I get tired just thinking about Susan. Not because she looks tired but because I’ve tried on my own to be all that. To be the perfect wife, perfect mom, perfect Christian. I can’t do it. And the reality is that I wasn’t created to.
And then I remember a passage in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. I love the way the Amplified version puts it.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).
You remember I said I know Susan’s stories? She’s pretty open about her past and the struggles and weaknesses she has faced. She glories in her weakness so that the “power of Christ my rest” upon her! And that’s how she does it…the truth is that her life isn’t perfect even now. I’ve seen her recently struggle and she doesn’t try to hide. Instead, she lets God’s power rest upon her.
Oh that I could boast in my weakness. As Christians we often hide our weaknesses because we’re afraid. We’re afraid that we’ll be found out. Could it be that only when we are real, we admit to our struggles and glory in our weakness we experience His power? I believe so.
What are you hiding? What lies are you believing that make you want to hide more?
I encourage you to spend some time this week writing down those lies and then find a corresponding truth in Scripture to refute that lie. Walk in freedom. Nobody has it all together!
*Names were changed to protect the innocent 😉
