It never fails. When I am pumped and ready for a new series or "special" sermon something happens. Allergies, cold, long weekend, early wake up call, etc.
It happened Sunday – 4 A.M., wide awake, sermon running through my head. At 8:30 I'm fuzzy and by 10:45 I'm tired. Why does this happen when I've got something important to say? Or, more pointedly, why does God do this to me when I've got something important to say for Him?
Some might say it's the Devil trying to get me down with sniffles or sleeplessness. But, as we learn from Job, the Devil can't get to me without God letting him. So whether it's the Devil or not, God is at work in my dilemma.
It used to frustrate me. After all I need to be fresh and well and ready to overwhelm the masses with my amazing oratory skills, vast knowledge of Scripture and deep passion for Jesus. If my abilities are diminished, how will people be convinced?
But then I began to learn (and continue to learn in my struggles) from the Apostle Paul:
So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
You see I, like many preachers, struggle with conceit – the arrogant thought that my ability is what makes the difference. The four o'clock wakeup call is a reminder that it is His ability by His grace that makes the difference.
When we are strong and can, the temptation is for it to be all about us. But when we are weak and can't, it must be all about Jesus and only about Jesus.
