WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT

Today’s Bible Verse

…we were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God…

2 Corinthians 1:8b-9a (NLT)

When You Have Nothing Left

As you read in our scripture reference, Paul wasn’t just having a bad day, he was facing a difficulty that was so bad, he thought it was over, his life was going to end. Have you ever been in a season that the suffering is so bad that you want to give up just so the pain stops? Maybe a bad breakup. The bills are piling up and no one is hiring you. You tried everything you could but nothing is working. Notice, it wasn’t until Paul felt crushed, overwhelmed, and expected to die, that he, “stopped relying on himself and learned to rely on God.” 

This reminds me when we were purchasing our home. Our closing date was approaching, and we were experiencing some delays, so we needed an extension. There were two problems with that: #1 – the seller didn’t want to extend, and #2 – we had to be out of our current rental because new tenants were moving in. I never prayed so hard in all my life. I couldn’t sleep at night. Rebuking anxiety. Casting down arguments left and right. I did everything I could think of. A week later, the day arrives that we were supposed to move into our new home with no approval from the seller. That was also was the same day we were moving out of our rental. While we were doing our move out, our property manager asked, “When do you move into your home?” I said, “Supposedly today but we didn’t get confirmation yet.” He said, “Do you want to stay a few more nights?” I felt such a sense of relief and before I could say “yes”, I heard the Lord say, “Don’t you trust me?” With conviction, I politely declined. I was so afraid. Regret hit me like a ton of bricks. What did I just do? Our life is packed up in a truck and we have nowhere to go. I got in the truck and my husband said, “Where are we going?” I said, “I have no idea, but I know that God is not going to leave us.”

Just like Paul, at that moment I felt like it was over. I had nothing else to give. There was no “plan b.” I had no other choice but to rely on God. I prayed so hard and said, “I trust You, Lord.” He said. “Show Me.” I told my husband, let’s start driving to the home, either we are going to sleep in the truck outside of the house or we will get confirmation and move in. A few minutes away from the home, we received a call from the realtor saying, “The seller has agreed, you can go to your home, the keys are in the lockbox.” (Samantha DeCorte)

An Uncommon Life

A grape is just a grape until it is pressed and fermented into wine. An olive is just an olive until the oil is pressed out of it. A Christian is just a Christian until you stop relying on yourself and start relying on God. You may be in a situation right now that you feel crushed, overwhelmed and you can’t live through it. I want to encourage you, against all opposition, against confusion in your soul and turmoil in your thoughts, put your faith into action. Now is the time to move. If God asked you, like He asked me, “Show me”, what would that look like?

Today’s Declaration

Lord, I repent if I have relied on myself and my ability to get through difficult times. I refuse to display my faith with anything less than total commitment, in my heart and in my life. No one will get the glory for what You have done and will continue to do in and though my life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

Today’s Bible Reading

  • Old Testament: 2 Kings 18-19; Psalms 119:169-176
  • New Testament: Luke 6:27-36; Philippians 3:15-21

WHEN YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT