It was so cute to see their eyes bulge in disbelief. From their collective response, you might have thought their dad had done some amazing, superhuman trick.
But all Kenya did was twist the cap on the tightly sealed bottle—something our two fiercely independent sons, Kaleb, 6 and Kedar, 9, had been trying unsuccessfully to accomplish for quite a while.
“Frick and Frack” had taken turns and tried everything they could think of until, finally, frazzled and exhausted with trying and failing, they came to their father.
When they walked over to Kenya, the oldest looked up and said, “Dad, we’ve been trying to open this, but it’s too hard.” I could see the weariness on their faces. They were each befuddled and fresh out of options. Kedar, you see, is the designated household jar and bottle opener. He prides himself on being strong and able. So I could tell they believed with all their little hearts that this was a seriously difficult task.
I stood by with a small grin, silently watching the exchange.
When Kedar handed the bottle over to Kenya, he effortlessly accomplished what the boys had been toiling fruitlessly to do on their own.
I could hear the amazed gasps as their mouths fell open.
Neither articulated it, but I knew they were thinking, “How could something so hard for us be so easy for Dad?”
We can be just like Kaleb and Kedar sometimes, can’t we?
We see things as challenges that are no match or problem for the Lord.
And unfortunately, too often, we carry things alone, exhausting our physical strength and intellectual muscle. Then, when we don’t get the results we want, we simply assume it’s because this thing must be really, really tough.
But that’s not it.
The problem is that we are trying to work things out our way, in our own strength, and according to our own understanding. This is where we mess up.
You see, we often suffer from know-it-all syndrome. We get fixated and focused on something, and believe that sheer determination and perseverance can change things.
Ha!
Keep on living my friend and you’ll find that sometimes, your best laid plans and greatest attempts will fall flat.
But these are not failures to be mourned, rather lessons to be learned. God is teaching us that, in our own strength, we can’t do it. We can push, try, scratch, and scrape all we want, and still reach a plateau that we need help surpassing.
Knowing our patterns, the Lord, our ever so patient instructor, helps us grow in this area by waiting for us. He allows us to run around in circles like a hamster on a wheel until we do what Kaleb and Kedar did.
We finally realize this goes beyond our skill, strength, and ability. So we come to our Heavenly Father and say, “Dad, I’ve been trying …but it’s too hard.”
And once we hand it over to Him, in His own timing, He takes that thing and does in a moment what we've worked relentlessly, feverishly, and unsuccessfully to accomplish.
Try it today.
Hand it over to God.
You’ll be more than amazed to see how easy it is for God to open doors that were closed; bring abundance where there was lack; give peace where there was confusion; replace sorrow with joy; send spiritual rain where there was drought; and make inroads where there were only roadblocks.
What is hard for you is but an easy thing for God.
So take it to the Lord and let Him handle it.
To remind you to do this, I’m stirring Matthew 11:28 into your cup of inspiration. It says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
When you drink down the contents of your cup today, you’ll be encouraged to know that the day you give your burdens to the Lord, is the day your struggle ends. You don’t have to toil through hardship and try to handle things all on your own. Run into the arms of God and find rest.
He is right there waiting for you to take those things that are weighing you down and place them in the Master’s hand, because you can't fix this. You can't work it out on your own.
So release it.
Go on.
Hand it over to the Lord.
As I said earlier, it is but an easy thing for Him.
Just as Genesis 18:14 asks, ask yourself, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?”
There is absolutely nothing too hard!
Nothing.
Now let’s pray.
Father, I know that You care for me and are able to do anything. But sometimes I find myself trying to handle things all on my own and growing so discouraged, weary, and exhausted with the journey. So today, I’m unloading my burdens, problems, concerns, and anxieties in obedience to Your word in 1 Peter 5:7. At this moment, I’m casting every one of my cares upon You because I know You care for me. Thank You in advance for doing what is too hard for me, but easy for You. I receive my deliverance and victory right now by faith as I release it all. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspiration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
If you need prayer, don't hesitate to request it. I would be honored to stand in faith with You. I know that prayer works. CLICK HERE to learn how to submit your prayer request.
