In the Old Testament, God often told the leaders of Israel to reduce the size of their army. In Judges 7, God ordered Gideon to reduce his army of 32,000 men to just 300 soldiers because He wanted their trust.
He didn’t want Gideon and his fighting men claiming a victory and accrediting their battle success to their own might. God changed the odds and made what seemed an impossible victory a reality. Thus, all of the glory was accredited to God. There was no way anyone could deny that God had intervened.
“Then the Lord said to Gideon, ‘By the three hundred men who lapped I will save you, and deliver the Midianites into your hand. Let all the other people go, every many to his place.’ So the people took provisions and their trumpets in their hands. And he sent away all the rest of Israel, every man to his tent, and retained those three hundred men. Now the camp of Midian was below him in the valley. It happened on the same night that the Lord said to him, ‘Arise, go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand.’” Judges 7:7-9 (NKJV)
If we try to do God’s will in our own strength, we’ll take the credit for whatever gets accomplished. Robbing God of His glory is foolish. Consider what happened to King Nebuchadnezzar!
“The king spoke, saying, ‘Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?’ While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: ‘King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses.’” Daniel 4:30-32 (NKJV)
“And call on Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” Psalm 50:15 (NIV)
The apostle Paul learned to boast in his weakness. He understood that God fills us with His supernatural power and enables us to accomplish whatever we face. When we feel helpless and weak, it builds our trust in His ability to care for us.
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)
Walking in humility will teach us to see and admit our own weaknesses. When we acknowledge them, it’s easier to step aside and let God work. Moving to a position where God takes the lead is often challenging. It requires not only trust and faith, but also patience. Waiting on the Lord to work His will in His perfect timing will stretch our perseverance. Life might be really hard but if we get past one moment He will enable us to move through to the next one.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10 (NIV)
If you are struggling with control issues and have yet to lay aside your burden, consider this image. Would you rather have the hand of God shielding you from the winds of adversity and directing your path or would you rather shoulder the full force of the storm on your own. Who should be in control, the Creator or the one He created? Where will you find victory?
“Yet You, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, You are the potter; we are all the work of Your hand.” Isaiah 64:8 (NIV)
“Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.”
Psalm 37:7 (NKJV)
“Lord, I know that people’s lives are not their own; It is not for them to direct their steps.” Jeremiah 10:23 (NIV)
Take the advice of this old saying, “Let Go and Let God!” You will find the strength you’ve been looking for when you admit your weakness and ask for help. When you surrender all… you will gain more power than you can imagine.
“I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
“It is God who arms me with strength and keeps my way secure.” Psalm 18:32 (NIV)
“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)