Move forward with the strength you have

​One day, an angel showed up to a man named Gideon. The angel told Gideon he was going to lead the people of Israel out from under the oppressive hold of the Midianites.

The Lord is with you mighty warrior, the angel said.

I can picture Gideon looking around, wondering, are you talking to me?

Gideon answered the angel with a question: if the Lord is with us why are we in this mess to begin with?

The angel answered, it's about time you get yourself out of this mess, Gideon. Go with the strength you have and save your people.

I'm sure Gideon was beside himself at this point.

With all do respect, Mr. Angel, have you looked at my family. They are one of the weakest families around, and I am the weakest in my family.

Isn't that often our response when we know we have somewhere to go.

A challenge we need to attack.

An opportunity we need to chase.

A path we feel called to walk.

Isn't our first response often taking inventory of our weaknesses and not our strengths?

Isn't our first response tapping into all the reasons this isn't possible instead of leaning into the reasons this is?

How much of our lives do we spend waiting on the strength we think we will one day have instead of just taking a step with the strength we already have.

And do we ever consider that the strength we want, the strength we think we need, is going to be built on the strength of that first step.

Gideon ultimately did save his people from the Midianites. He ultimately did discover God was with them.

But he was never going to discover it wallowing in the weakness of his family, of his self. He was never going to discover it waiting on the necessary strength to come instead of leaning into the strength he already had.

Because he did already have the strength he needed to take a step.

How many challenges do we not face, opportunities do we miss and callings do we leave unanswered because we're waiting on the strength to find victory.

What if victory is about the strength you already have and not the strength you think you need.

Go in the strength you have.

My guess is the strength you think you need will be found there.

Along with victory.