Yes, lessons from talking veggies. In honor of a birthday in our household (mine), I decided to put in one of my favorite Veggie Tales videos "Gideon, Tuba Warrior," and enjoy one of my FAVORITE things to do with my kiddos (gosh, I must sound so selfish!) -- CUDDLING! I had K in one arm, T in the other, but reaching around him to hold M's hand (G was taking a nap). Ahhh, cuddles with (most of) my kids. Loved it.
I really just put the video in to enjoy some cuddle time with the kids, but little did I know that God wanted to talk to me through talking veggies.
As I was watching the video, I was thinking how Gideon (played by Larry the Cucumber, my favorite talking veggie and whom I named my second guitar after - sad, eh?) felt totally ill-equipped to do what God had asked him to do. He was second guessing at so many steps along the way not only because of how inadequate he felt, but also because it didn't make sense to him how in the world his army could defeat the much bigger army. Gideon did follow through, though, and as a result was able to see God work in a powerful way to accomplish what He called him to do.
God knew what He was doing all along. It wasn't about how equipped Gideon was for the task God called him to do, it was about how equipped God was. And well, God is equipped to do ANYTHING He wants to do.
Then I started thinking about different people in the Bible that God asked something of. People that seemed so ill-equipped for what God asked of him or her. David, who seemed too little, but ended up defeating a GIANT when everyone else was so afraid to fight him. Moses, who felt like he wasn't good at speaking, but who God used to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. There are a ton more, but my brain has decided to stop working right now, so I'll let you fill in the blanks. :)
ANYWAY, I was just thinking how it seems God specializes in using people that seem or feel ill-equipped to do what He asks of them. But when they trust Him and follow through in obedience, God shows up in powerful ways and accomplishes His will through them. It isn't about how equipped they are, it is about how equipped He is and whether or not they trust Him and step out in obedience. Oh ya, and what's that saying about how His power is perfected in our weaknesses? Oh ya. :)
How did God use this to talk to me? Last week I was hit hard while doing my Bible study. I realized HOW INCREDIBLY ill-equipped I have been feeling to do what God has called me to do right now. I feel like I am no good at it. That I keep failing over and over. And how I don't understand how that can change. So God greatly encouraged me through the talking vegetable that has a cute lisp. God specializes in using people like me. It isn't about me or how equipped I feel. It is about who HE is and how equipped HE is. My part is to trust Him and step forward in obedience...even though in my mind, I can't see how it is all going to work out...even though it feels like I am failing over and over...even though it's not going the way I would expect things to go if this is what He has called me to...even...even...
Don't you just love how God chooses to speak to us even through things such as silly talking veggies?
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. [Proverbs 3:5-6]
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. [2 Corinthians 12:9]
