When our Strength has failed, Remember- we have a Reserved Inheritance

(The following was taken from the bulletin at St Charles Bible Church    St Charles MN August 26, 2018)

When we have exhausted our store of endurance.  When our strength has failed, ere the day is half done.  When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, our Father’s full giving is only begun…”  

   Annie Johnson Flint wrote these beautiful words, shortly before her death.  For more than forty years there was scarcely a day when she did not suffer arthritic pain. For thirty-seven years she became increasingly helpless.  Although her joints had become rigid, she could still turn her head, and in great pain, she could write a few lines on paper.  With a pen pushed through bent fingers and held by swollen joints, she wrote first without any thought that it might be an avenue of ministry.  She composed these words while covered with boils, bandages, and extreme joint discomfort.  “When our strength has failed…”  

This past week has been so traumatic and exhausting for several families in our church.  I hope you have been praying especially for the ….  (I know, there are others as well.)  They have experienced the fatigue that comes with long nights, so many questions, and so little strength.  I hate tears!  Of course, we wish we could administer a little taste of heaven by “wiping tears and easing pain”—without drugs!  But there are clearly times when God chooses to give us “grace to endure” rather than “wings to fly.”  To Paul, the Apostle, the Lord says, “My power is made perfect in weakness.”  In response, Paul says, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Cor. 12:9 NIV) 

Weakness is one consequence of stress for long periods of time.  The disciple Peter had learned that Satan (like “a roaring lion”) loves to hunt among the hurting, but Peter also learned that God arms us to fight well, even in our pain and weakness.  God plants invincible truths in our vulnerable hearts, and then guards our faith with His infinite power.  (1 Peter 1:4-5)   

When Jesus “fore-warns” Peter about his collapse under pressure, He concludes with, “But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.  So, when you have repented and turned to Me again, strengthen your brothers.”  (Luke 22:32).  When I think of our church family, and about our calling and commitment to His body, the Church, I conclude that a BIG part of that is helping the weak and hurting to find strength.  Even Jesus had helping hands (angels) who strengthened Him after His temptation and His prayer in the garden, “Not My will, but Thine be done.”  Jesus described His ministry this way: “He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives … to bind up the wounds of the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives.” (Isa 61:1, Luke 4:18) We must “be about our Father’s business!”                             

Pastor Jim B

   ’47 / ’56  St Charles  MN

Doris Jean H

’44 / ’55 Manheim PA