He believes in us!

When the Israelites turned their back on Him yet again, in Judges 6, God wasn't ready to abandon them, even though He did allow them to suffer the consequences of their actions.

As a result of rejecting God, the Israelites faced harsh oppression from Midian. God tells them in Judges 6:10 "...you have not listened to me." This made me think of how many times we try and follow our own path, only to suffer the consequences and hear God say, "you have not listened to me." Doesn't this remind you of  the times when you've disobeyed your parents, and you've heard the disappointment in their voices?

A loving parent does not reject their child when they make a mistake and neither does God. Out of His love God raises up a mighty warrior.

Judges 6:12 "When the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon, he said, 'The LORD is with you, mighty warrior."

Before Gideon even considered himself to be great, God saw the greatness within. There are many things that God has planted in our lives that we may not see yet, but that does not mean they are not there. Just because you don't think you are powerful, or strong, or an over comer, it doesn't mean that you don't possess those qualities deep within.

In Judges 6:13 Gideon responds to the angel, and he says something that I think we have all said when we've doubted God. 

"Pardon me, my lord," Gideon replied, "but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, 'Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?' But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.'"

Personally, when I entered the biggest storm of my life, all I could think was, "If God is with me why am I suffering? How can He truly be good if He has allowed this to happen to me?". As time went on I truly realised that your circumstances are not a reflection of God's character. Just because I was suffering, it doesn't mean that God was up there, enjoying it. 

 Gideon had a warped mindset because his own father had served Baal ( (a foreign useless god)and set up Ashtoreth poles. Often we can misunderstand the moves of God when we focus on our circumstance. As humans, it's like we have a default setting to run from God or blame him when we face trouble - but we've got to go against that if we want to move forward. Our flesh never desires what's good for us.

The answer that Gideon receives is simple:

"Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Am I not sending you?" (Judges 6: 14 NIV)

You have strength even if you don't realise it. You are more than enough! We need to stop seeing ourselves as weak or not 'strong enough'. In Christ you can go against the status quo. You can crush one million obstacles. Recognise WHO sent you - once you have confidence in who Jesus really is, you'll move with confidence. Go with what you have - go with that talent or gift, with the resources you already have, with the few people around you. You do not need more! Stop waiting for everyone around you to get with the program. 

Like many of us Gideon had a problem with self-image and confidence. He told God, "...how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family" (Judges 6: 15).  

You know what's amazing about God? He doesn't care about social status. He doesn't care about if you are 'high key', 'low key' or whether you're apart of the most popular clique. And what's more amazing is that, when we care about it and focus on it, God simply replies "I will be with you...".

Even when we are like Gideon, and rely on the physical to believe in him rather than live by faith, he doesn't give up on us. 

Judges 6: 17 -18 "...give me a sign that it's really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you." 

You see, Gideon had been so used to serving a god that didn't have substance, he struggled to see that God was real and believed in him.When we are blind to who He is, God simply says to us, like he said to Gideon all those years ago, "I will wait until you return."

How loving is our God? He always waits for us to return and when we do, He welcomes us with loving arms. He didn't only wait like he promised, but he gave Gideon the strength to not not only defeat the Midians, but also the courage to go against his father and serve the true and living God.

As Christians, and even as general people, we all have moments like Gideon; we live in fear and doubt ourselves but most of all we sometimes doubt God. 

However, I want you to know that God does not doubt you. He believes in you. You possess so many strengths that you are unaware of, and even the things you consider to be your weaknesses or faults, God has already turned around for His glory. You are a mighty warrior even if you consider yourself the lowest of the low. 

Courtney Carr xx