Equipped

"To suppose that whatever God requireth of us that we have power of ourselves to do, is to make the cross and grace of Jesus Christ of none effect" - John Owen

This quote is one that I keep in my mind often. I have a confession - I love being a mother, wife, homemaker. I am called of God to be these things. But I am not very good at it. And there are times when I don't "love" it so much, and wonder why God put me in a place where I have no talent or natural ability. It is hard, hard work. And not very rewarding all the time. I have nothing specific on a day to day basis that brings me great recognition or accolades from those I know and love, and much less from those I don't know. It can be discouraging, overwhelming, and not very fulfilling. I am a happy homemaker, but not by nature. I am not one of those who dreamed of being a wife and having babies my whole life. In fact, I grew up as a very independent, introverted person - I enjoy quiet, aloneness, time to read lots of books. So, why has God placed me in a position so contrary to my nature? Therein lies the beauty and the power of the Lord.

The world says to pursue a life where my strengths, talents and interests are highlighted. Where I have lots of personal self-fulfillment, lots of recognition and "esteem". But what does the Lord say? He says "die to yourself", "become like Christ", "My strength is in your weaknesses". It is exactly these reasons He has called me to be where I am. So I can become more like His son, trusting in His strength to bring about His will in me.

What is my (and, actually, anyone's) ultimate purpose in life? To glorify the Lord and enjoy Him forever! What could be more glorifying than His strength making me into the woman He wants me to be - the woman I am not, at all, by my own strength. He equips me for His high calling, He alone. I can take no credit for the changes He's brought about in me, as they are so far from who I was and imagined being.

So when I feel discouraged, depressed, and like I'm sliding down the terrifying slope of failure, I remember - He is my strength, my source, my encourager! It is He whom I am serving, and He will not let me go. The Lord does not fail! Hebrews 13:20-21 reminds me: "Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, {even} Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom {be} the glory forever and ever. Amen." Amen!