When You're Down to Nothing

“Sometimes God has to strip you down of everything to make you realize that all you need is Him.” I wrote this weeks ago and wrestled with what it really meant. Today I think I came to some sort of understanding. I’ve probably written several times that in my mind I ask God two questions. Why me? And why now? In my own mind I was a more dedicated and faithful servant several years ago, and I was more spiritually ready to answer God’s call. In contrast this current writer is much more broken, bruised, and scarred. So God, why me and why now? Then I realized what David said in 2 Samuel 24:24, “…No, but I will surely buy it from you for a price; nor will I offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God with that which costs me nothing…” It finally dawned on me that I saw “my holiness” and “my righteousness” and dare I say pious ways as the gateway to calling. Me, me, me. My anointing, my gifts, and my knowledge of the word. And then life hit harder than ever, and I forgot I had any of those things. I saw pain, disappointment, and brokenness in myself and could no longer see how or why God could use me. “Sometimes God has to strip you down of everything to make you realize that all you need is Him.” I thought this meant stripping me of material possessions because I did lose everything in this process, but God meant to strip me down of so much more. Pride, arrogance, selfishness, bitterness, complaining, and a generally nasty spirit. How could I reach out to anyone when I couldn’t see beyond myself and my own issues? I learned that God was waiting for me to give all that to Him before He would give back to me all that He promised. Do you know what is exciting for me now? This is just the beginning. Why me? Why now? Because He knew the work that had to be done inside of me before He could ever trust me to share His word. Because He is all knowing and His timing is best. And because the best is still yet to come!