Home > A Community of Faith > Archives > 2009 > October > 14 > Entry
Equipment
Do you ever feel like you’re not equipped? I would expect you have times in your life when you don’t feel like you’re able to do the task that is set before you. I know I have. King David had it figured out when he was about to fight Goliath. He had been clothed with all sorts of heavy armor in prep for his battle with the giant. No doubt he was being outfitted for success. He had all the equipment a warrior would have needed to fight an enemy in that day, but he realized very quickly that it wasn’t about the outfit or the tools. It was about what was on the inside. The “man after God’s own heart” knew He had more than He needed with God on his side.
My son is like that sometimes. He feels like he needs all the best equipment to excel at a sport. Once when he was playing baseball, he was in the middle of a hitting slump. He was convinced that he needed a new “DeMarini Voodoo Composite Singlewall barrel design, ion endcap something something something bat.” I hated to break the news to him, but it wasn’t the bat. I am convinced that if you’re a good ball player, it’s not the equipment that makes you great. It is more about the one who is holding the equipment. It is inside you…some innate ability…some inborn talent…it is either something that you inherently possess or have developed over time with hours and hours of practice. It is something that’s on the inside, not the outside. Either way, it has very little to do with your outfit or accessories, although that is exactly what the world promotes. My contention is this…if you’re a good ballplayer, you can hit a paper ball with a tobacco stick standing barefoot wearing a ripped pair of umbros and a holey (I don’t mean sanctified) tee shirt across the neighbor’s fence with the wind blowing in your face!
God has created us to do great things! Things beyond our imagination. Things we can’t imagine ever accomplishing. We’re standing in front of a mirror looking at ourselves in the physical realm and all we see is bare feet, tattered clothes and shaddy equipment. But God sees us through the lens of possibility. He sees all that He has created us to do.
Some of you feel like you’re not equipped to perform the daunting task God has set before you. My suggestion is this…Take what you have. Start where you are. Pick up your tobacco stick and your paper ball and grab your old tattered running shoes and take the first step… God will meet you on your path. He’ll take you right where you are with exactly what you have and he’ll help you hit one out of the park!
Phil 4:13 “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Comments
By Vickie
October 14, 2009 2:57 PM | Link to this
Suzanne, you nailed it for me today. God really does want us to do great things - things we can’t imagine or comprehend. This really helps me in the journey I’m on in my life right now. Thanks so much! P.S. Phil:4:13 just happens to be my favorite!
By Celia
October 15, 2009 9:20 AM | Link to this
Another “good read” or me. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!