How to Live in the Strength of a Warrior
I lay awake staring into the dark. I yearned for sleep to silence the thunder of my thoughts, but the storm wouldn’t cease. Rest was just a dream.
So many what-ifs rained down, flooding any hope of rational thought. I flipped from laying on my right side to laying on my left. The downpour didn’t cease. I eased onto my stomach, punching my pillow into a more comfortable shape. Comfort didn’t come.
I pleaded with God, but my own fears howled loudly, drowning out the voice I needed to hear. Exhaustion finally broke through the squall and I fell asleep.
Dealing with my Storm
Have you been there? Are you there now? For me, a family crisis threw my life into chaos. I put my job on hold, hugged my husband good-bye, and boarded a plane. I felt overwhelmed, unprepared, and out of my depth.
At first, I imitated Moses and pleaded with God to send someone else to go weather the tempest. I progressed to mimicking Jonah and I looked for a way to escape. I eventually fell into the pattern of a desert-wandering Israelite, complaining to God over every little wind gust and cloud burst. In His gracious faithfulness, God spoke to me through the story of Gideon.
The Story of Gideon
The story of Gideon begins with the Israelites messing up and not living how God had commanded; Judges 6:1 says, “So the LORD handed them over to Midian seven years.” When the seven years were up, God chose to rescue the Israelites through Gideon. Gideon wasn’t anybody spectacular. He was the youngest in his family, and his family wasn’t anything to write home to mama about.
Perhaps you’ve heard the story before. Gideon leads a very small band of warriors, and they defeat the Midianites with a bunch of empty pitchers, torches, and trumpets. It’s quite the incredible story! (You can read it in Judges 6 and 7.) The part that really spoke to me though wasn’t the outcome of Gideon’s adventure.
God Calls Gideon
“The Lord turned to him and said, ‘Go in the strength you have and deliver Israel from the grasp of Midian. I am sending you!’”
judges 6:14 (csb)
The phrase “go in the strength you have” jumped off the page to me. I sensed the Holy Spirit whispering the same words to my weary soul, but I had a hard time accepting God’s message because I didn’t feel as if I had any strength to offer
Did you catch that the scripture passage doesn’t say “go in your own strength,” but the passage refers to a strength Gideon already possessed? The Holy Spirit directed me to the Angel of the Lord’s greeting to Gideon in verse 12.
“The Lord is with you, valiant warrior.”
judges 6:12 (csb)
Enough Strength
Gideon had enough strength to do what was being asked of him because the Lord was with him.
Likewise, I had all I needed to do what was being asked of me, because the Lord was with me. You have all you need to battle your storm because God is with you.
It’s so easy to be trapped in how turbulent our circumstances feel. It’s hard to recognize our all-powerful, all-wise, always present God when we fixate on our tempest and its restrictions.
God is With Us
Psalms 139:7-10 reminds us of God’s continual companionship
“Where can I go to escape your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there . . . even there your hand will lead me; your right hand will hold on to me.”
Psalm 139:7-10 (csb)
We sometimes perceive God hasn’t met us in our storm if the storm is still raging. God was with Gideon the entire time, even while he was trying to figure out if God was really sending him to lead the fight! And God’s Spirit was reminding my heart that He would be with me.
The Lord is with you, valiant warrior; go in the strength you have. Almighty God is holding your hand to lead you and keep you safe, even in the midst of a thunderous downpour. He will journey with you wherever the storm blows.
I’m praying for you.
Storm Photo by Todd Trapani on Unsplash
Thank you for sharing this encouraging word Nancy. I’m praying for you as you deal with the crisis before you. He already went before you!
💕
“go in the strength you have” – a reminder that we do have the strength to face the storms that come into our lives. As our family has faced life/death issue this past weekend I know for a fact that it hasn’t been me, but all God.
I don’t feel like a valiant warrior and at times I wonder if I am gaining any ground, but this scripture reminds me that I am valiant only because God walks beside me.
Thank you for these words of encouragement after a weekend of fierce storms.
I’m especially grateful that I was able to encourage you. I love the honesty in your statement I don’t feel like a vailiant warrior and wonder if I’m gaining any ground. That is so me so many times. AND God always walks beside us. So much to be grateful for in that simple statement.