I can do all things through him who strengthens me. [Philippians 4:13 (ESV)]
Years ago, facing overwhelming responsibilities, I stood in the middle of the Home Depot garden center, broke into tears, and prayed, “God, I just can’t do it all.” A very gentle voice said, “You don’t have to!” and then put into my mind the names of people who could help me in the many tasks that lay ahead. Not long ago, when planning another major event, I approached that same feeling of desperation and felt much like a gerbil on an exercise wheel—running hard and getting nowhere. I was running out of ideas, time, energy and patience. Circumstances over which I had no control were part of the problem but so was I! Pride made me both hesitant to ask for help and reluctant to share the glory. Fortunately, I’ve learned a few things since that day at Home Depot so I did some serious praying and humbly asked for help. Friends and family came together in the most amazing way and incredible solutions appeared for what had seemed to be unsolvable problems. It was as if God was saying, “See, you can do it—just not all by yourself!”
Solomon’s kingdom flourished because the wise king delegated responsibility; he appointed governors over twelve districts, another governor over them, and eleven other high officials. Even Jesus knew He couldn’t do it all when He lived as a man. He chose seventy-two disciples to act as advance men in the towns He would later visit. Later, when the Apostles learned that the widows weren’t getting their share of the food, they asked the church to appoint seven men to take on that responsibility. Paul appointed elders in every church, delegated leadership responsibilities to men like Timothy and Titus, and encouraged them to find other trustworthy men to pass on God’s word.
God gave Eve to Adam for more than procreation; “I will make a helper who is just right for him.” [Genesis 2:18] We’re not meant to go it alone. When Solomon delegated, his kingdom prospered and grew. When Jesus delegated, He trained the disciples to pass on the faith. When the Apostles delegated, they were better able to use their gift of teaching. When Paul delegated to other evangelists and elders, he demonstrated his trust in their ability. When I delegated, the result was far better than I could have imagined and I was able to share the joy of accomplishment with all who helped.
God is God and we are not. As mere mortals, we can only do our best. Sometimes, however, doing our best means allowing other people to do it! We have been instructed to serve one another but, for that to happen, we must be willing to let others serve!
Be strong enough to stand alone, smart enough to know when you need help, and brave enough to ask for it. [Ziad K. Abdelnour]
And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. [1 Kings 19: 12 (NLT)]
Last week was “Fall Prevention Week” but it wasn’t about keeping summer’s flowers blooming or preventing Jack Frost from coloring the maple trees. Although accidents can happen, most falls are preventable and last week was dedicated to preventing those falls. Apparently, because my age puts me in the group most at risk of falling, my son sent me an article identifying the best ways to prevent falls. Instead of clearing walkways or installing non-slip tape and a grab bar in the tub, I ended up thinking about ways to prevent another kind of fall—the one into sin. In reality, I’m far more likely to fall that way than to stumble over my entry rug.
From the viewing platform at the marsh, I watched a Cooper’s hawk soar high in the sky. When I turned to leave, I looked down and saw several white egret feathers on the ground below. Whether it was the hawk, a raccoon, or some other predator, the park had one less egret in the pond. Those beautiful white feathers were a stark reminder of how precarious life is, not just for wild birds, but for us all. I was reminded of Ecclesiastes: “For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die.” [3:19]
Having just returned from the East Coast, I had a lengthy “to do” list and thought I could fit in a few errands before picking up my mother-in-law for her doctor’s appointment. As I pushed the cart through the store, I glanced down at my watch to check the time and gasped. To my dismay, I’d lost an hour! I should have been picking her up right then; there was no way we would make it to the doctor’s on time. Leaving the cart in the aisle, I rushed to my car. Rather than think how to save the situation, my first thought was how to spin it! Other than my own carelessness and stupidity, what valid excuse could I have for my tardiness? As I started the car, I glanced at the clock on the dash and realized that hour hadn’t disappeared; I’d left it back East. While my watch was still on EST, my car, mother-in-law, the doctor and I were in CST and there was still plenty of time.;
Unlike the bruised and broken butterflies in yesterday’s devotion, this one looked perfect as it lay on the trail. When we approached, the Viceroy fluttered its wings but only managed to skim a few inches across the gravel. As intact as it looked, one wing was entirely useless. To protect it from walkers’ feet and speeding bicycles, we managed to get the creature off the trail into the grass. Unfortunately, without some sort of butterfly super-glue to reattach the loose wing, while we could help, we couldn’t save it.
Devotions of the Heart 