Not my strength but Yours

I know the popular saying, “if God brought me to this place then He will take me through it.” But it can be misleading. This paints a picture in my mind that I will come out of the storm stronger than before but that is not always the case. Lately, I’ve come to realize that God brings me to the storm so that on the other side I come out broken thus more dependent upon whom He is, not who I am or even hope to be. In every situation where Jesus heals someone we see what is expected – the physical healing but we also see something that isn’t expected – a spiritual connection that speaks to the individual more deeply than anticipated.

Mark 5:18-19 NLT
(18) As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with Him.
(19) But Jesus said, "No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful He has been."

The demon possessed man whom Jesus delivered begged Jesus to go with Him but Jesus said no. What was going through his mind at the time Jesus denied him? I would have been crushed but the Holy Spirit of God gave him power to obey.

Mark 5:33-34 NLT
(33) Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of Him and told Him what she had done.
(34) And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over."

The woman with the issue of blood was healed by simply touching Jesus’ garment but when Jesus asked who touched Him the woman was frightened knowing Jesus could easily condemn her but trusting that He was good she confessed and God was glorified.

Mark 5:35-36 NLT
(35) While He was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, "Your daughter is dead. There's no use troubling the Teacher now."
(36) But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith."

The man who’s daughter was dying had to wait on Jesus as He tended to others and when the message came it seemed Jesus was too late but Jesus told him to have faith. What that father went through on the remainder of the journey home is difficult to imagine but once again God’s Holy Spirit enabled him to remain with Jesus and trust Him.

In all these instances there was faith, brokenness, trust, and strength but the strength was not from the individual but from Jesus’ voice and the Holy Spirit. Once we become broken we never forget it but we also never forget God’s ability to bind us together again and what we become on the other side is something previously unobtainable because it didn’t come from us and what binds us now is stronger than if we had never been broken.