Gideon

Do you ever feel small and weak? Like you can't live up up the expectations of people have on you? Gideon felt that way. In Judges 6-7. we read about his story. The Israelites were doing evil in God's sight. God put them in the dominion of Midian for 7 years. The people of Israel hid out in the mountains. The Midians left them nothing to live on. They were reduced to poverty. They called out to God and He spoke to Gideon through an Angel. Gideon replied. But Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!” Judges 6:15. Gideon asked the Angel for several signs to prove that God would help Him and was truly speaking to him. All the signs that Gideon asked for was completed so Gideon complies. Sounds like us, right? We keep asking God for show up before we can trust him. Gideon, only after seeing that was truly God speaking to him complied.

Gideon gathered a huge army to fight Midian. God said he had too many, and asked him to ask his soldiers if they wanted to go home, and 22,000 of them went home. The number is now 10,000 but God says it is still too big. Only 300 soldiers were left to fight Midian. Remember how large it was at the beginning. To make a long story short, Gideon splits his 300 men into 3 groups. He gave each man a rams' horn and told them to shout exactly what they were to say, "For the Lord and for Gideon." (verse 17). They began at midnight by breaking clay jars. and played their rams' horn. They had torches lighting the sky. The Midians ran out, panicking and shouting as they escaped.

I think we are a lot like Gideon. In fact, Gideon is my favorite story in the Bible. I often feel like Gideon. I feel small. I question if I can do all that is expected of me. There were many times in college I doubted that I'd actually graduate. Yet, the God of Gideon is our God. He says if He tells us to do something, He will give us the resources to get it done. We do not have to have signs done for us like Gideon to prove we can trust God. We have stories just like Gideon's all throughout the Bible to show us God is on our side. He is for us and and we are not alone. The Bible proves God is trustworthy 100% of the time.

When the Unexplainable Happens

This is just one of the pictures that shows the devastation left from Hurricane Harvey. Some of the stats on CNN are staggering and beyond comprehension. 75 billion in losses, 72,000 people rescued, 30,000 people who need temporary shelter. These are only some of the stats.  Beyond every stat, is a face of a mother, father, child. Beyond every stat there is an elderly person whose life hangs in a balance. Hurricane Harvey is just one example of things that we cannot understand and things we cannot explain. 

So, what are we suppose to do when things like this happens. First we need to support each other. If we cannot afford to help financially, there are other ways we can such as simply praying for the families affected and the rescue workers. It is easy to lose hope when catastrophic events take place whether you are in the impact of the devastation or miles away.  It can be mentally draining. We need to keep the situation in our thoughts but we also need to move forward- this goes for everyone. There are many ways to keep levelheaded when the unexplained happens. 

1) Limit the amount of time you watch the news or read the news- this includes Facebook 

2) Spend time with your family doing something fun

3). If you feel you need to talk to someone, make a call to a Mental Health Professional. 

4). Do things you love to do.

5) Talk to someone you trust. 

The most important thing to remember is to not to lose hope. The Bible warns us time and time again the we will encounter hard times in this life. Being a Christian doesn't give one a "get out of a jail" free pass. The Bible also tells us not to lose heart because God as overcome the world. Think of all the good things people are doing to help others. People are taking care of one another. People are going out to the devastated areas with food, water, clothes, blankets and supplies for the victims. This is just one way of God overcoming the world. It is so easy to overlook the miracles and only see the devastation. This is when we begin to feel helpless and overwhelmed. When we see the miracles going on during unexplained events, we do not feel as helpless. We begin to be able to trust God and also become something that is so much bigger then ourselves. We see ourselves as equal and united. 

When the unexplained happens we need to look at the miracles in order to rise up and move forward individually and as a nation.