For most of my life,

in many ways,

I’ve felt that I was “in over my head”…

Most things don’t come ‘easy’ for me.

I didn’t do so well in school.

I wasn’t well suited for Speech or Debate class.

I do not consider myself to be sharp, or intellectual…

I don’t typically “think fast”…as much as I would like to be able to.

To be honest,

very rarely am I able to formulate a thought, verbally, that I am truly satisfied with.

This is not a self-condemnation session…

…it’s just an honest assessment of what it is.

But you know,

I have discovered

that I have a desire to learn about the things of God

far more

than I have ever desired to learn

about anything. 💖💡🎊

Oh the depth and eternal value of His ways… 💖✨

And I take great comfort as I reflect on the truth of 1 Corinthians 1-2…

“²⁴ But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

²⁶ Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. ²⁷ Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. ²⁸ God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. ²⁹ As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

³⁰ God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. ³¹ Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”—1 Corinthians 1:24-30 NLT

I am learning to become content in this.

I am learning to trust God in this.

God doesn’t need our intellect.

God doesn’t require a high IQ.

We don’t have to “pass a test” in order to belong to Him.

He simply asks us to follow and trust!

Does He want us to study, to dig into what He wants us to dig into?

To learn, and to put our hands to, the thing that He desires for us to do?

Yes!

But He doesn’t NEED our knowledge, our ability, or our wisdom.

That’s not a requirement.

He just needs our willingness.

HE

is able. 🙌

And because He is able,

WE ARE ABLE.

“For,

“Who can know the Lord’s thoughts?
    Who knows enough to teach him?”

But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.”—1 Corinthians 2:16 NLT

He gives us the ability, in Christ,

to be able to do

what truly matters in His sight.

Paul the Apostle said,

“When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. ² For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. ³ I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. ⁴ And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.“—1 Corinthians 2:1-4 NLT

And I am so thankful

that He desires to use us

even in our smallness,

in our inability,

in our weakness,

in our flaws…

…in the most gloriously, surprising ways. ✨

“The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. ¹⁹ As the Scriptures say,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise
    and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”

²⁰ So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.“—1 Corinthians 1:18-20 NLT

 

When I become frustrated with myself,

when I put my focus on my lack or “inability”…

or when I look over, comparing myself with someone else…

I remember this:

God doesn’t ask much from us

in order to do something glorious…

in order to do something of ETERNAL VALUE in HIS KINGDOM. ☀️

He just asks us to show up,

to be there, and to trust…

ready and willing to say “yes” to Him.

As His children,

He desires to invite us in…

“God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called.”—Mark Batterson

And God shows us this

through the simplicity of a child…

He demonstrates this

through our willingness,

and a few

simple

words.

I love that about Him, don’t you?

I’m so thankful for that about Him.

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰ Therefore I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”—2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NASB

Thank You, Father. 💝

-Heather 🌺