I Don't Have What It Takes

The week was off to a smooth start: no one was in a fight with any one; everyone was excited for camp; the weather looked great...oh, and I sat in the middle of a group of ten high school aged girls, in total shock. What did I just get myself into, Lord?




I don't have the patience to lead these girls with grace.


I don't have the energy to run on only 4-5 hours of sleep each night.


I don't have the answers to their questions.


I don't have...




When I focus on what I don't have, it is beyond easy to get lost in negativity. But as I sat with my ten girls in our family room (NOTE: ask me about that, it's a fun story!) I was reminded of what the Lord has shown to me time and again throughout the years, that I don't have what it takes - but He does.
And it is in my weakness that His strength is made perfect and His extravagant love is made evident.




Amazing, isn't it, that when you allow our God to speak through your life how easy it is to love people? How easy it becomes to open up, be transparent, and to accept with grace those around us. And isn't it even more amazing, the sense of wonder you experience when the Lord's strength consumes your weaknesses?


Friend, it so is.


That first day of High School Girl's Week was my wake up call to the fact that my God is greater, stronger, higher than any other. That I was nothing and could do nothing without His breath in my lungs; indeed, He was reminding me to breath...in...out...in...out.


Doing life on Monday, Friday seemed far away; waking up on Friday, it seemed to have come too soon. Each of my ten campers had grown so much in my heart, filling up more space than I thought I could possibly have for them! They each are unique, creative, silly, deep - all in their own ways.


Yep. Friday came way too fast. But as I gave my girls one last hug, and prayed over them as they loaded into the van, I knew that the Lord had shown them love. Through my willingness to recognize that I didn't have what it would take, God stepped in and gave me what I didn't have. Believe me, He longs to do the same for you - allow Him to be the strength you never realized you don't have. We are weaker than we think - and He is stronger than we can ever know.