Not By Might, Not By Power

I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily. —Colossians 1:29 (21 June 2005)

Mom always told me that I couldn't just rely on myself to do things. That when I did, it would always come out short. I don't think she meant that I wasn't good enough. But that if I committed it to God, he would help me and it would be far better than what I could achieve on my own.

I have heard some call Christianity a crutch, that it breeds blind faith and dependence on something that is intangible. But Colossians 1:29 reminds us that dependence on God's mighty power within us is what makes us effective. And I bear testament to that.

I don't remember the times that I have succeeded under my own wind, possibly because they were so unimpressive they don't leave a mark in my memory. Spectacular failuures, on the other hand, like failing my Chinese exam, races that I botched up bore the same obstinate trademark of me, trying to do it on my own, me, not asking for God to guide me along and basically, doing it the Sinatra way.

And in the same way, committing in into God's hands and asking him to show the way has always turned out great. At 6, I remember Mom worrying that I wasn't going to get into a good primary school and she told me to pray about it. So I did. We had big French windows in the house and I knelt at one, like in children's books, and I prayed. The prayer of a 6 year old was heard by God and I got into the school that Mom hoped I'd get into.

And twenty years later, that still worked. My honours thesis wasn't just my work. It was a joint, collaborative effort. I asked for guidance and I prayed for the Holy Spirit to be with me and I wrote that dissertation that impressed enough to give me top marks. What more evidence does one need?

I think we need to keep remembering that. That when we do our best, God does so too. Reaping what you sow with God's help. It really isn't a one way thing, where we ask and sit back and just receive. I need to remember that in school as well. I guess, sometimes, I am so uninspired in school that it's just work that I need to get through. But even then, God helps, when I have piles to grade and ten thousand things to rush out. I guess, on our part, we have to remember to give thanks and honour for what He has done.

Thank you God for never being too busy to give us a hand with even the smallest things.