Lean not…

Today’s reading is from 1 Corinthians 10.

11-12These are all warning markers—danger!—in our history books, written down so that we don’t repeat their mistakes. Our positions in the story are parallel—they at the beginning, we at the end—and we are just as capable of messing it up as they were. Don’t be so naive and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

13No test or temptation that comes your way is beyond the course of what others have had to face. All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he’ll never let you be pushed past your limit; he’ll always be there to help you come through it.

Verse 13 reminds me of “there’s nothing new under the sun.” Often times it can feel as if we’re the only ones who ever went through what we’re going through, and it’s easy to forget that this hardly the case. Christ has endured it all, and much harder to boot, I’m sure.

It’s in times like these where we need to stop looking at ourselves, and relying on ourselves. “How am I going to get out of this?” or “What will I do if this or that happens?” We should take all things… ALL THINGS… to Christ, who strengthens us. It requires a rewiring of our minds, so to speak, so our reaction to hardship is a look to the heavens, then a fall to our knees in prayer and supplication.

Lord, thank you for the reminder that you are my all in all. I often look to my own understanding, which is so limited. May today’s words rest in my heart, Lord, so that I may remember them, and use them, and lean on you and your living Word when times are rough.

jesus, hardship, paul, apostles, the message, self reliance, shawnw

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