Not in Our Own Strength | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Not in Our Own Strength | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ericka Loynes
04/27/06
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Not in Our Own Strength

Let’s imagine. We finally give in to our son’s relentless petition for a vacation with out-of-town relatives, and he is very excited about his trip. Our only son, now a handsome young man with a charming smile and a dignified style, is packed and ready to go. We send him off and recall those precious early years when he was totally dependent on us.

Fast forward. The phone rings. We eagerly pick up, but the call is not from our son. The voice on the other end announces that our son has been murdered. He has been kidnapped, brutally beaten, shot, and tossed in a river with hopes of never being found. This is neither a case of mistaken identity nor the result of a robbery gone bad. No. This is an unjust, cold-blooded killing that boils down to one point – prejudice.

Now, where do we find strength to reject depression, psychosis, suicide even? How do we get over the hurt, pain, anger, resentment, and bitterness? What gives us the desire to forgive? Though unpleasant to imagine, the scene above is not fictitious. If we could turn back the hands of time, we would find that this is a true account of one instance that dramatically changes the course of a woman’s life. Yet, she is able to navigate her way through this horrific event with the support of one who relates to her anguish.

God the Father understands, because his only son Jesus has been unjustly murdered – brutally beaten, hung, and thrown in a grave with hopes of never being remembered. However, history tells us that God's omnipotent power raised Jesus from the dead. Today, that same power is available to us. After his return to heaven, Jesus sent back his power to serve as our inner strength.

The Holy Spirit is a powerful and abundant resource that fuels us to operate in a supernatural capacity which is incomprehensible to the finite mind and impossible to accomplish through human ability. As a result of accessing this power, that woman publicly forgives the unforgivable, actively lives out the rest of her life, and positively influences the lives of many others. Next time we encounter the unthinkable, let's not depend on ourselves for inner strength. Choose to tap into the divine power that abides within!

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