I really felt God’s encouragement this week while I was reading the story of Gideon. Gideon was in a winepress threshing wheat, hiding out from the Midianites who were oppressing the Israelites. Then the angel of the Lord came and sat down by Gideon and called him a mighty warrior! And he sent Gideon out to battle the Midianites with only 300 men and he defeated them!
I picture Gideon being so tired and afraid that he was not going to make it through the suffering, so he is just doing what he could to survive. That sounds like many of us today, just tired, grasping for that light at the end of the tunnel, and doing what we can do from day to day. In the middle of the oppression, the angel of the Lord came and sat down. But what really popped out to me was how excited Gideon was when he realized it was the angel of the Lord. It says he exclaimed!
Judges 6:22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the Lord, he exclaimed, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” (NIV)
You may be going through a difficult time or life seems monotonous, but know that God can meet you in the middle of what you are going through. The enemy has stolen a good amount of joy in your life, but it is time to find that joy again, to find that peace again, to fight for you and not allowing the enemy to sink you further. It is time to rise up with Jesus! Not today, Satan! Jesus came so that we can have life to the fullest (John 10:10). He has plans for your life (Jeremiah 29:11)! We are more than conquers (Romans 8:37)! And we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13)! Sometimes we just need to get that spark back inside us to rise up out of what we are going through. Let faith rise up!
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You love us so much! Help us to get that spark back in our step and to rise up in faith knowing You are with us! In Jesus’ Name I Pray, Amen.
Comments