Knowing My Need
You know those weeks when each day feels like a week in itself? When you feel like you’re treading water, barely staying afloat? When you can barely keep the essentials taken care of, much less everything else? When you long for Friday afternoon more than anything else?
It’s funny that I think about the Lord more during those weeks. It’s not that I need Him more. My need for Him is the same every day - desperate and intense. What changes is how much I’m aware of that need. And that’s why, during hard times, I find Him more easily - because I’m reaching out to Him more quickly.
Maybe this is why it’s said that “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.” Because these dear brothers and sisters have so much stripped away from them that they are acutely aware of their need to rely on Him. And thus their faith grows in leaps and bounds while many times we who are more comfortable are content to take baby steps.
May God open our eyes to our constant need for Him.
“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
“And He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?’ Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.” (Matthew 8:26)
“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, ‘Lord, save me.’ Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’” (Matthew 14:30-31)
Filed under: Christianity, Personal Reflection, Scripture, Struggles on March 5th, 2008
One could reasonably add: “I believe. Help my unbelief.”
its always refreshing to read your thoughts Anna.
“It’s funny that I think about the Lord more during those weeks. It’s not that I need Him more. My need for Him is the same every day - desperate and intense. What changes is how much I’m aware of that need. And that’s why, during hard times, I find Him more easily - because I’m reaching out to Him more quickly.”
So True!
p.s. congrats with the new blog…wish you the best
This is so true, Anna. Oftentimes, when things are going well, we can slip into self-sufficiency and pride. But those days where we most sense our deep need for God are precious, because they take us back to that place where we humble ourselves, acknowledge our need, and rely on Him again.
Dear Anna,
Your last two posts have REALLY encouraged me this morning and are honestly just what I needed to read! I too easily lean towards a melancholy disposition and so, from week to week, I can find myself feeling drastically different emotions and attitudes in my heart! I was reminded last night and then again in this post how much I need the Lord all the time and as you say, not just in the harder days/weeks…but I do think He, because of His love and compassion, sends us special reminders of his presence in the harder, lonelier times!:)
This post (and the accompanying picture) reminds me of this:
http://www.fallingfifth.com/
You couldn’t have said it any better - how very true!