Surrender to God's Strength

Psalm 21:13 Be exalted, O LORD, in your strength; we will sing and praise your might.

My fall scarecrow is a wonder of engineering.  He is constructed entirely of wrought iron with sinewy arms and a huge pumpkin head attached to a stick of a body.  Every year when I put him in the ground, I ponder how he remains upright.  It's as if his rod body is reinforced with titanium instead of run-of-the-mill wrought iron. 

The winds come. He stands.

The rain falls.  He stands.

The ice pelts.  He stands.

If he were living in a modern day Wizard of Oz, he'd have the scarecrow asking for more than a brain.  He'd be asking the wizard for the strength of his friend who stalwartly stands watch in my yard each fall.

Today I read Psalm 21.  David rejoices in the strength of God.  In fact he refers to himself as the king in this chapter.  He is an earthly king captivated by the might of his Heavenly King.

I walked with a good friend this morning whose husband recently lost his job.  As we chatted she wisely stated, "Shannon, we didn't lose anything.  A Christian doesn't lose a job.  We gain a new assignment.  We work for God so we can't ever lose our job." 

Her faith is unwavering.  It is resolute.  Like my scarecrow, she stands in the midst of the storm.  Looking from the outside one would think her strength is impossible but her Engineer sees it differently.

She isn't standing upright all alone.  The Engineer holds her with His strength.  His strength becomes hers.  She doesn't see her problems; she sees His perspective.  She doesn't see her situation; she sees His solution.

Yesterday I got a letter.  It was one I didn't want to read.  The tears flowed from an aching heart.  I wasn't sure I could stand.  Today I realized I couldn't.  God can stand and hold me safely in His arms.

Jesus, I celebrate Your strength.  The winds may blow but I will stand.  Held.  Cherished.  Strengthened.  I stand like my scarecrow with arms straight out.  I am surrendered to Your strength.