Balance is a touchy subject for me. Probably because I have
little to none. It hit me today as I was standing on the bus (swaying and
falling side to side). I quickly realized it’s much easier to hold onto the
metal pole rather than the plastic handle. The handle moves as my hand does, so
what good does that do except to cause my arms to fly everywhere too? The
handle is actually no better than me standing on my own. But when I released my
death-grip on the handle and held onto the metal pole, it was much easier for
me to be still.
This morning it was a beautiful reminder of what faith ought
to look like. When I grip onto movable things based on my own strength, I am
going to shift and sway. It’s not until I grab onto something steady that I am
able to stand firm. It is the same with my faith. When I reach out to things
that change with seasons, I am uneasy, uncomfortable, and can be swayed. If I
put everything I have into school, friends, or organizations, there is nothing
perfectly consistent in my life. None of those things are bad by any means, but
none of them can serve as an “ultimate”.
What I mean by that is that none of those things can genuinely satisfy
me or hold me steady. It is not until I release my grip and reach out to the
Lord that I am able to stand firm. I find balance and confidence in who I am by
knowing Whose I am. It is not about the works, the grades, the community
service hours, the leadership roles, etc.. Those things change and I can always
be out-done. The steadfastness is not because of my own ability, but Christ the
solid rock. The more I try to grasp onto the unsteady things of this world, the
more I shift and sway. But when I seek the Lord first, I am established in His
strength. Surrendering the hold I seem to have enables me in turn to be held
fast. As I released the handle on the bus this morning in turn for the metal
pole, the steadiness came with a much greater ease. When I realize my weakness
and seek the strength and steadiness of something so much greater than myself,
it is then that I find strength.
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk
in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you
were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” –Colossians 2:6-7-
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His
might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the
schemes of the devil.”
-Ephesians 6:10-11-
“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom
there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on
that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heave and earth, the sea, and all
that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the
oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free” –Psalm 146:3-7-
“So to keep me from becoming
conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was
given me in th eflesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from
becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it
should leave me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My
power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly
of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of
Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions,
and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” -2 Corinthians 12:7-10-
