Think It Over-by Josh

I have always struggled with feeling insignificant. I look around and see the Lord using so many people I know in unbelievable ways and I feel buried by the unending pile of internal issues I still have to face. Reality is that I will always have issues to deal with. They are unending...We never reach a point of solution. Yet, in my mind, I still subconsciously create this place in life I will reach that will leave me perfectly ready to be used by the Lord and until I reach that I will always be ineffective and useless.

This could possibly be one of the most crippling and deceptive tools the enemy has used against me. Thankfully, the Lord speaks directly to this in 2 Corinthians. Paul is talking about an experience where he was shown heaven and how he could rightfully boast about all that he had seen.

2 Corinthians 12: ...7-8 (New Living Translation)

So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul took pleasure in his weaknesses...

This devotional spoke directly to me a few days ago. I hope it encourages you.


Think It Over: "April 13, 2010
Think It Over
by Charles R. Swindoll

Centuries ago a little boy found himself in the midst of a vast crowd of people---larger than any group he'd ever seen. He had come out of curiosity, having heard that a man named Jesus was nearby.
Not knowing how far he would have to travel or how long he would be gone, the boy had packed a small lunch for himself, a couple of small fish and some bread.
Suddenly a man tapped the lad on the shoulder and asked what he had in his hand. And the next thing the boy knew, his lunch was feeding over five thousand people!
Once Jesus got hold of the boy's simple meal there was no limit to what He could make of it.
Feeling a little overwhelmed? Starting to get the idea that you're surrounded by folks getting giant things done while it's all you can do to make it through the week? Maybe you've fallen into a well of comparison, and you're drowning in discouragement because 'compared to ______' you're not making nearly the difference he or she is.
To all who feel overwhelmed or who are tempted to take a much too critical look at their lives and feel insignificant . . . take heart! Do what you can!

Excerpted from Day by Day with Charles Swindoll, Copyright © 2000 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. (Thomas Nelson Publishers). All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission."