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WHEN YOU ARE DISCOURAGED BY YOUR WEAKNESS

Have you ever wanted to ask God the question, "Why do bad things happen when You promised You would protect me?” Take heart in this - you are not the only one. Gideon was threshing wheat at the bottom of a winepress, grief-stricken over the state of his people and wondering if God had abandoned him. Listen to the vulnerability in his words when the angel finds him, “If the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us?” It is comforting to read that even heroes of the Bible sometimes felt this way, isn’t it?

Sometimes, overwhelming circumstances tempt us to believe that we aren’t seen by God—or if He does see us, He doesn’t care enough to change them. However, we see later in the story that God’s eyes were always on Gideon and his people. Sometimes, to receive a miracle, we must first walk a path we never hoped would be part of our story. We later see how God used Gideon and his three hundred men to defeat the Midianites.

Even though Gideon asked God for sign after sign, God met him right where he was. He was tender with Gideon’s fears, patient with his doubts, and reassuring of his concerns. This story reminds us that our fragility invites God to come to our aid powerfully.

GET REAL WITH YOURSELF

When was a time in your life when you felt unseen by God or wondered if He was still on your side?

What excuses do you find yourself using—such as Gideon’s “my clan is the weakest in the whole tribe and I am the weakest in the entire family”—in your current season of life? What does this reveal to you about your trust in God in that area of your life?

Reflect on a time when Jesus showed up for you in a big way. Looking back on that time, are you now able to feel thankful for the fragility you felt?

GET RENEWED IN PRAYER

HEY JESUS,

Thank You for the stories in Scripture and the reassurance You give us within them. They help me remember that I am never alone in any doubt I have or struggle I face. Will You help me recognize my situation as a setup for Your faithfulness? Make me acutely aware of any area in which I am failing to trust You, so I can work it out with You. Remind me that You don’t get frustrated by my need for assurance. Steady my heart when I am struggling with fear, anxiety, or shame.

You made my heart for communication with You—it is the invitation to a rich and meaningful life. So, help me bring my concerns to you, knowing that You already know every thought before I think it. You see the depths of my heart and You not only love me the same, but You also give me purpose. Like the angel that appeared to Gideon and called him “mighty hero,” You call me forth into the person that You created me to be. Help me stand in agreement with what You say over me and my life.

IN JESUS'S NAME, AMEN.