Opportunity part 4
When we are weak, God (LOVE) is strong. Because when we are weak, we stop trying to do it ourselves. And then God (LOVE) has an opportunity to do what God (LOVE) does. Which, of course, is to love. Love is not just what God does, love is who God is. But love isn't pushy. Love doesn't demand its (HIS) own way. So as long as we try to do it ourselves--for the most part--I think God will let us. But I think its more like a parent who teaches his kid how to ride a bike by taking the training wheels off. Daddy doesn't send you out in the road and say, "You're on your own. Good luck. Hope you don't die." Daddy holds the seat until you can catch your balance. And he usually runs along beside you until you get going. Until you can do it yourself. And even then, daddy keeps an eye on you. He doesn't leave you nor forsake you. And when you do, inevitably, fall down daddy doesn't scold you. He doesn't kick you while you're down. No sir. He reaches down and helps you up. Helps you try again. Because the only true failure is failure to try. And while one of my favorite verses (I know, I know, they're ALL my favorite) is Jude 1:24, "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy," I also think, like that father in our example, He will let you make your own mistakes. He's always there to help... but I think He wants to be asked. Let me say it like this, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). And I'm not trying to get to deep into salvation--what it means, who its for, and all that jazz. I'm simply saying, if you need to be saved from any situation, call on the Lord. Don't try to do it all yourself--that usually ends up making things worse instead of better. The harder I try most of the time... I usually end up hurting instead of helping. So don't try to do it all yourself. Give God an invitation. No, better yet, respond to HIS invitation. Because HE stands at the door and knocks. HE has prepared a table for us in the presence of our enemies. All we have to do is open the door. Sit down and eat with Him. Let Him handle what we're stressing about. Cast your cares on Him, because He cares for you! He won't let you down. He won't let you fall. And if you DO fall, He'll pick you up, dust you off, and give YOU the opportunity to try again. And here's the best part: Failure stings, but we learn more from failure than success. When we try again we're a little wiser. A little more experienced. I believe that most of the time--if not all of the time--we have to do something wrong before we do it right. Unless you're that old wrestler Mr. Perfect, nobody can do everything. You have to know when to say when. You have to know that asking for help when you need it is not a sign of weakness. It is a sign of wisdom. And the most help we can get--the BEST help we can get--is calling on the name of the Lord. Inviting love into the situation. Or, again, answering love's invitation. There is never a time or a place where love (God) isn't present. Hovering over the face of the deep. Waiting for an opportunity...