The Brave Hearted You: Empowered by Cherice Hernandez

 

Hello Brave Hearted Steppers,

“This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” – Zechariah 4:6

My 4-year-old son is the kind of child who always likes to try to figure things out on his own. If something breaks, or if he can not figure something out, he will continue to try. He would get frustrated. He will huff and puff. But he will continue in his pursuit of trying to fix whatever it may be. I use the words “whatever it may be” only because this is a constant battle, I see him go through on a day-to-day basis. If you’re a toddler mom you will understand.

When I see him struggling and getting frustrated in trying to fix his toys. My mom heart wants to step in so badly and just tell him “Eli, please give me the toy so I can help you put it together.” But I give him time to notice that on occasion it is okay to ask for help. It is okay to feel like you cannot do it all.

This reminds me of how we are. We can be stubborn, selfish, and proud, and think we can handle our situations or handle life without anyone’s help. Truth is we cannot. We cannot overcome life situations by our own might or by our own power. WE. NEED. GOD. We need his spirit. His spirit guides us. His spirit lights our path.

Psalm 119:105 reads “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path”

Just as a lamp brightens a path for our feet to walk, God’s Word provides the illumination and guidance we need to walk in this world. Only God’s Word provides the direction we need. When God calls us to a purpose, His Spirit fills and equips us to complete it. As Paul learned, human weakness is no obstacle because God’s power is perfected in it:

“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 12:10

Have you ever noticed that it seems that God asks us to do some big things whenever we feel defeated? Specifically for Zerubbabel and the Israelites, this word meant that this great task would not be accomplished through their own strength and effort — but through God’s Spirit. But isn’t that where we often find ourselves? We lack resources, and so we assume that we either need to surrender this battle or labor to fill in what we lack. We don’t have might; we don’t have power. We need his SPIRIT. We need God's resources.

Jesus is always greater than our strength. The need of the people is always greater than our resources. You combine these two things, and it’ll wear you out. That is the total opposite of what we want to do. This is why we must remember the words of Zechariah 4:6. It’s not through our own strength or might but rather what happens through His Spirit. God doesn’t want you exhausting your strength but letting him be strong through you. Let him be glorified through your life.

I always say this “You may be the only Jesus someone encounters”. It holds so much weight to it. If people see you doing it all on your own then they won't become dependent on God. They won't need to turn to him for anything in their lives. We want our lives to be a reflection of Jesus, our actions to be a reflection of his heart, and our words to be a reflection of his words. At the end of it all, all roads point to Jesus. We need him in everything. We need Jesus in our homes, in our marriages, with our children, in our jobs, in our children’s schools. We even need Jesus when we run our errands. We can’t walk this life alone and think we have it all figured out.

News flash. WE. DON’T. But we can have a heart of surrender and give it all to the one who does and who has full control over our lives and wants the very best for us in all areas. That is the one who I want to run to when I feel weak. That’s the God I want to run to when I need guidance. That’s the God I need. So, today I pray you trust in the Lord with your heart, with your life and just allow him to work. 

Isaiah 40:31 – But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

Blessings,
Cherice Hernandez