BOOTSTRAPS OR DOTS

 BOOTSTRAPS OR DOTS

Today, I watched a couple of videos on the horrors of human trafficking and how massive the problem is worldwide. Almost all the people involved in rescue operations always mention God and or the Lord Jesus in their testimonies. As strong as their convictions are, they quickly see that the obstacles are way too overwhelming even to attempt to remedy the situation without God. We need to look at the situations we face with the same attitude, recognizing that only God and our Lord Jesus Christ have the perfect resolutions to every complicated problem and horror the devil has put us in.

 

Many of us have grown up being taught that we could overcome any obstacle if we really wanted to. Even in church or Bible college, we’re taught such verses as Romans 8:37: “We are more than conquerors. . . .,”

 

Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things. . . .,”

2 Corinthians 2:14: We “triumph. . . .,”

Romans 16:20: “Satan under your feet. . . .,”  

and Ephesians 6:10: “Finally, my brethren, be strong. . . .”

 

But sometimes, we leave out the most important part of those verses in our thinking, our conversation, and even when we teach our children. What’s in the dots? We fall far short of becoming any of those things to their full capacity without what is in those dots.

 

Some of us have adhered to the old adage: “Pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”  But we cannot pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. It’s impossible. Just try it. Yes, a very clever person could hold onto their bootstraps and jump into the air for a moment. But in a second, he or she falls right back down to the ground. That’s what it’s like to try to do the best and be the best without God. One will always fall short.

 

It’s what’s in the dots that is important. God is in the dots, and only God knows all the secrets and all the solutions. In Romans 8:37: “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”

 

In Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ.”

 

In 2 Corinthians 2:14: “Thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.”

 

In Romans 16:20: “The God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet.”

 

And in Ephesians 6:10: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.”

 

Let’s not forget that the source of any true solution must be orchestrated by and directed by God Himself. We can gather all the available information, but we still won’t have all the answers without HIM.

 

Yes, we have God in Christ in us, and that’s tremendously powerful, but we need always to remember that we are not the center of answers; only God is, and many times He keeps some secrets to Himself. He is the one doing the perfect work in only a way that only He can.

 

Jesus put it like this: “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, He doeth the works” (John 14:10). God is working in each of us to get things done right in the world. Let’s not do so much analyzing and criticizing, but more trusting in God’s wisdom and sovereignty to carry out His will.

 

Love, Carolyn

Many of you have been reading my Preach letters for several years, and now you have teenagers or grown children. If you think they would benefit from my articles, let me know, and I can put them on my email list, or send by mail if that works better. 😊