Thoughts on Powerlessness, February 27, 2009

Even long-time followers of Jesus experience down turns, depression, deflated spirits.  We don’t talk openly about it because we live in a church culture where we erroneously believe that we should always possess and exhibit a “more than conquerors” attitude.
 
But it’s not true.
 
If you ask even the most mature of believers, if you ask a church leader, a pastor, or anyone whose commitment to following Jesus extends 20, 30, 40 years – if you ask them if they have ever felt despair, wanted to throw in the towel, and on the edge of giving up hope, their honest answer will likely be an admitted yes.
 
Life is hard, and sometimes it grinds us to the bone to the point where we don’t want to get up. We feel that we have gotten up too many times, and this time we’re just too tired to make an effort – and even if we did, would anyone notice or care.
 
“Heresy, lies, lack of faith” you may cry out. “Pray more, spend more time reading and studying scripture – could it be that you have unconfessed sin that is rearing its nasty head?”
 
Oftentimes, most times, praying. Immersing yourself in the Word of God, and seeking godly counsel from others does work and lift us back to a level of feeling invincible.
 
However, it doesn’t happen all the time, and  for this purpose:

God wants us to experience powerlessness.

He does it for several reasons:
1.    He wants to help us identify with the powerless of the world—the people without resources, access, advocates—people who see no hope and, therefore, can project no future—so that we will have greater compassion for them.
 
Look at the people whom Jesus lifted up: the lame, blind, disease, possessed, suppressed and oppressed. Jesus went those whom others ostracized and told them, “You have value to me, and I love you so much that I am going to take away your shame.” He did this for blind Bartimaeus, the woman at the well, the woman accused of adultery, people whom others not only pushed way outside of their circle, but pushed down again and again.
 
2.    He wants to cut our ties to false power, to things that cannot fill or last so that we can receive more of His Power.
 
God does not want our lives charged by an inferior power—only by His power that created the world and created us. It’s the bottom rung of the 12 Step Program of Alcoholics Anonymous where we feel powerless to change ourselves. Up until then we have been trying to change ourselves through wrong measures, and instead of being empowered we get fried.
Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told his disciples, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high." (Luke 24:49)
 
3.    He wants us to serve and love others.

Serving one another has less to do with doing, and more to do with caring.
 
Time for bed right now. More thoughts tomorrow.

Posted via email from 40 Day Fast