Tired! So tired!!!
In my old age I have discovered a simple fact: the more I rely on myself, the
more I under perform.
When I first started teaching in my neck of the woods, I was heavily involved
with my school's extra-curricular activities as well as youth programs at my
church. Combining the two didn't always turn out the way I thought it would.
When I undertook a week-long trip to Ottawa with the older kids at my school, I
discovered that on such trips sleep is hardly possible (I wonder why? If you
want them to come back in one piece, vigilance is a necessity!) But hey, I was
young and I could do anything! Wasn't I superman?
Yeah, right!
On the Friday of our return, as we pulled into the school's parking lot, I
realized I had a bunch of eager youth from my church impatiently waiting for me.
I had promised to take them on a campout that weekend. What had I been thinking?
And off I went, using toothpicks to keep my eyes wide-open.
As we arrived 3 hours later to our destination, the first thing I did was find
my bed and sleep, Sleep and SLEEP. In fact I was so exhausted that I slept the
entire weekend! And boy can I snore! The youngsters were a bit disappointed, and
so was I! They did try to wake up the dead, but for some reason the dead were
truly dead!
The next day, back at school, I kept yawning, and when I wasn't yawning, I
was nodding off. What kind of an example had I set for my students?
Amazingly, I never was labelled as "Doopy" or "Sleepy-Head".
Yes, when I try to handle things by myself I am definitely a disappointment to
those around me!
Now that I have matured in age, I know that relying on my own efforts is far
from ideal. I now try to do what these hundreds of past years have taught me
(Well, maybe not hundreds…), I rely on the Source of my energy: on God Himself.
And boy, is He amazing!
Day in, day out, I am surrounded with wacky, excited, jumping-bean-like ten year
olds. God has also blessed me with an online ministry that is both active and
rewarding. Although I am over the threshold of reasonable age, I am provided
with the necessary energy to be there for others; and this, without yawning or
snoring!
What is the unknown source of my energy? It sure isn't me! I have been diagnosed
with a sleep problem and should not be able to function to the best of my
abilities, but I do! And it isn't caffeine either! Coffee keeps me awake for
days in a row and must be avoided at all cost! My only source of energy is my
Lord and Master Jesus Christ, who always comes through when I rely on Him!
"Instead of trusting in our own strength or wits to get out of it, we were
forced to trust God totally - not a bad idea since he's the God who raises the
dead! " (2 Cor 1:9 The Message)
I have also discovered that salvation by works always comes up short as well. We
can never reach the level that brings us any satisfaction. In all reality, Jesus
is the only One who made our salvation possible and He sure doesn't need our
help! "Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough
to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major
role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole
thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and
saving." (Eph 2:8-10 The Message)
The same is true with addictive sin. None of these addictions can be broken
through our own efforts. Oh, we may try successfully for awhile, but it never
lasts. Only by relying on His power and especially on His love can anyone be set
free: "So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through." (John
8:36-37 The Message)
He forgives not because of our efforts, but because He loves us and because we
are willing to turn our back on the slime that has infested our lives: "If we
admit our sins - make a clean breast of them - he won't let us down; he'll be
true to himself. He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing," (1 John
1:9 The Message)
Too often our reliance on our own efforts becomes a disappointing illicit lover
that keeps us from truly experiencing Jesus in our life. Life has never been all
about us; it is truly all about Him! How many disappointments could be avoided
if we would only rely on the Source of Life Himself!
"Live carefree before God; He is most careful with you." (1 Peter 5:7 The
Message)
"But I want so much to visit the French Polynesia!"
And then? If you let Jesus stay at the helm, your trip will be MUCH more
adventuresome!
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
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The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.