From Judges 6:13-18
The “defeat a whole army with 300 men” version of Gideon is intimidating. We see the end of Gideon’s story and think, “God would never use me in that way.”
And thus we walk away. Fascinated by an amazing story of what God can do. But thinking the story can never be us.
Gideon’s early story is vital for us. Gideon made his job impossible because of fear. Now, Gideon has questions for God. Maybe this part of his journey is more relatable.
Gideon’s questions…
- Where is God?
- Who am I?
Where is God?
If all of this bad stuff happened on God’s watch, then Gideon wonders where God is in all of the oppression. Have you ever wondered the same thing? You and Gideon have something in common! If you don’t feel like a “take on an army with 300 people” type of person…neither did Gideon!
God tells Gideon, “God in your strength.” I think there is a bit of a double entendre here. Gideon shows fight and spunk with God. So God tells him, “This spunk of yours…use that to do what I told you to do.” And God also could be saying, “This strength of yours will run out. I have to be with you to give you the strength you need to accomplish what I want you to accomplish.”
Both are true at the exact same time. God designs us. We have what we need to live the life we have God placed before us. And we can go in the strength he’s created us with. However, this created strength will run out.
In today’s context, we call this burnout.
You’re a leader, an achiever, a doer. You go and go and go. God created you that way! However, you will hit a wall and wonder, “Where is God?”
He’s several miles back inviting you to rest in his presence.
Who am I?
God wants Gideon to recognize he is not enough. His clan. His family. His own strength. None of it will be enough to accomplish what God wants to accomplish.
God wants Gideon to know, “I will be with you.”
God wants us to know, “I will be with you.”
And “God with you” is enough.
Immanuel is not just Jesus. “God with us” started at created and ends with Revelation 22. Jesus was the apex of this realization. Jesus is God with skin on. There is no bigger commitment to “God with us” than God showing up, putting on a body and dying on the cross!
God is with Gideon in the fear.
God is with Gideon in the oppression.
God is with Gideon in the questions.
God is with Gideon in the doubts.
God is with Gideon in the victory.
Who you are is only found in the middle of God’s presence. The full victory in Christ is only found in the middle of God’s presence.
You are in leadership. Maybe even leadership in God’s Church. You go and go and go serving others and forget to rest in God’s presence. This is where your strength to do ministry comes from.
Even if you never burnout, isn’t it still better to minister from a point of God’s presence instead of the strength he gave you because he created you?
God created us very good! This means we can go a long time on our own strength. However, God wants us to accomplish what he wants us to accomplish. God wants to do inside us immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine.
Immeasurably more is only found in God’s strength. And God’s strength is only found in God’s presence.
Do not sacrifice God’s presence on the altar of “doing ministry” or “accomplishing great things.”
Your Journey
Everyone has a journey. Gideon’s journey did not start with defeating a whole army with 300 men. Gideon’s journey started with fear, oppression, doubt and questions. Find God’s strength and his presence right where you are today.
I don’t like the journey. I want to be at the destination. And I’ve had so many starts and stops, I have a hard time knowing if God is in something or it is a harebrained idea.
God isn’t asking me to be at the destination. God isn’t asking me to get myself to the destination. God wants me to rest in his presence to get to his destination.
Let God move you to the vision he has for you.
How can you connect with God’s strength and presence today?