I drop my sword and cry for just a while
Deep inside this armor
The warrior is a child. – Twila Paris -1984
Most days, my shield can cover the chinks in my armor. Today, the shield was heavy, my arms strained from the weight. Flanking arrows tested the chain-mail that normally deflects glancing blows. The foes that I face daily were reinforced by every little “supposed crisis” that came along.
I have leaned that the more you are able to do, the more indispensable you become, yet, it comes with a burden of more responsibility.
In the Parable of the Talents, the servants that returned a profit from the gold they had been entrusted with heard:
“Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.” Matthew 25:21
Sounds familiar. But just because “I CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength” Philippians 4:13 does not necessarily mean I NEED to do all things.
Tasks began to gather in my path, some warranted, others simply a result of apathy or foolishness. Adversaries to the left of me, jokers to the right, gathering like some Saturday morning cartoon villain, transforming into a Goliath beyond my control. Not having the strength to gather stones, nor the faith to wield a sling in battle, I retreated to a quiet place.
“I dropped my sword and cried for just a while.”
As I implored the Spirit to intercede on my behalf, because I did not know how to pray, I heard:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Well rent me a blimp! I’ve got weakness to spare and a lot of boasting to do.
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:16
If the Son of God, the Almighty in human form, needed to withdraw to reflect and recharge, then I am in good company, stealing away moments in my busy day to breathe, and breathe in the breath of God.
I do indeed “go running home when I fall down”.
“Deep inside this armor the warrior is a child”, but the child of the Almighty Father.
Boasting in weakness
Patiently waiting for His perfect power
And Blessed in Great Measure
If you have been blessed by my meager ramblings, send me a note at john@blessedingreatmeasure.com. I love to hear good stories. And subscribe so you will receive an email when the Spirit moves me to scribble thoughts again
