We are not as strong as we think we are...

"Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry."
Matthew 4: 1-2

The human being is an amazing resilient creation. Throughout the history of the world we have shown the capacity to adapt and endure almost any and every difficulty faced. With grit, guile and inner strength, when in the face of adversity, we more often than not boldly stare it down, and push back. Our plucky survival instinct has served us well over the years - we were created to be strong and resilient.

However, as one of my favorite songsters, Rich Mullins, wrote - "we are not as strong as we think we are."

Physically speaking - I have seen some of the strongest people I have ever known felled and conquered by disease and illness. Unfortunately, no amount of inner strength, or "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" attitude had the capacity stop the onslaught of disease. Even more simple than disease - we cannot live or function very long without food, water, and sleep. Take any of these three things away for any amount of time, and tough humanity is reduced to a helpless creature.

Emotionally speaking - some are stronger than others I suppose, but even so, are we really as strong as we let on? I mean, in the face of an earth shattering relationship betrayal, or a tragic death, or an unexpected loss of income and employment - is our plucky survival instinct enough?

Then there is temptation - the sweet sirens call to sensuously indulge in disobedience to God. To willingly drink of sin in spite of its ill effects on us. If you are anything like me, the temptation is often much stronger than my resolve, and if it came down to a cosmic arm wrestle between my strength and the temptations allure...much to my shame, the temptation usually wins.

We are not as strong as we think we are...but I know of One who is stronger than our hurt, more mighty than our struggle, tougher than our tough times, and fully capable of pinning down our temptations. In fact, in our weakness, He is made strong.

Why was Jesus tempted so in the wilderness? Jesus who had never known what it is to be in need, or to struggle, or to hurt, willingly stooped down to earth, took on our humanity, and then proceeded to test the limits of the human condition. In the desert: he knew thirst, he knew hunger, he knew loneliness, he knew temptation. These things that often leave us reeling were endured by Jesus for 40 days. But why?

Empathy...

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin." Hebrews 4:15

God knew that we didn't have enough strength to endure life in this sinful world on our own. He knew that we would all eventually come across stuff that was beyond our pluck and guile, and he didn't want us to have go it alone. So He walked our journey for Himself.

Jesus understands our pain, because He lived it. Jesus knows how difficult it is to survive temptation, because He survived it. Jesus, fully human, knows exactly how you feel and what you are going through. Jesus, fully God, is almighty in power and strength and able to strengthen and uplift us when we are unable to do so on our own.

Our own strength has limitations and will only take us so far...but the strength of God in Jesus Christ will surely be sufficient for all who seek it.

Thanks be to God, that although we are not as strong as we think we are - Jesus is exactly as strong as we need Him to be.

Be God's, Scott