Tip of My Iceberg

She’s learning to eat solid food. She’s not overly impressed.

Thea is nine months old, and her folks began introducing people food to her a couple of months ago. Her response has been more to play with it than to eat it. Unless it’s something she can pick up with her hands and maneuver it somewhere close to her mouth, it’s just another toy.

Is this a messy situation? You bet. She needs to be washed down in the sink after she’s done. There’s no satisfying any hunger; she hasn’t had any food input to mitigate the gnawing in her stomach.

There are many times when I feel uncomfortable trying something I’m not familiar with. I’ll approach the situation with caution, hesitant about what problems possibly could occur, and not engage fully until I’m sure of the outcomes.

There are many instances in the Bible where individuals were hesitant to trust God in the face of uncertain and challenging circumstances. One of those individuals was Gideon, who lived during the 13th century BC. He lived during a time when the Israelites had turned their backs on God with idolatry, so the Lord allowed the Midianites, an early Arabic nomadic tribe, to continually raid their settlements, steal their crops, and generally make Israel miserable.

Gideon was called by God to lead the Israelites to conquer Midian, but he was hesitant and fearful, not having had experience in leading or fighting. The Midianites were terrifying; their attacks were brutal and caused the Israelites to hide in caves. When God told him to go with the strength he had, Gideon was afraid.

“‘But Lord,’ Gideon replied, ‘how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!’ The LORD said to him, ‘I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man.’” Judges 6:15-16.

If God had spoken out loud to me, telling me I was going to be able to do something because He was with me, I’d listen to Him. Maybe. Gideon, however, was hesitant. The Midianites, Amalekites, and others from the east formed an alliance against Israel, which was an uncomfortable situation for Gideon. He demanded a sign from God twice because of his fear and faithlessness. God, out of love for Gideon, provided him with the signs he needed to believe God would do what He said He’d do.

Gideon was curious about what God was willing to do through him, but he was cautious in moving forward in faith because he saw himself as weak and incompetent. It was easier for him to picture failure than to imagine success. He was familiar with messy, but the possibility of being an overcomer in a hazardous endeavor was more than he could grasp.

But God.

God gives us everything we need to do all that He asks us to do. He doesn’t set us up for failure; He provides and protects us even in times when we feel alone and afraid.

Just like Thea is unwilling to step out of her comfort zone with new food, so I often feel unable to accomplish what God has set before me, stepping into a situation that may be hard, uncomfortable, or daunting. Even messy.

Thea will learn to eat people’s food. It’s part of growing up.

The greater question is, will I learn to trust God when He says He’s my Enough?

That’s a question we all get to answer.