Saturday, April 6, 2024  

---

Today's Hymn
“Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah”

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah,
pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but thou art mighty.
Hold me with thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven,
feed me till I want no more; feed me till I want no more.

by William Williams
Hymn 65, Glory to God
verse 1

---

Reflection

I’m trying to remember when I learned the phrase “pull yourself up by your own bootstraps.” I can’t remember how it became part of me, but its message shapes me and the mainstream American culture. Although it's a very common message, it’s based on ideas that are not true.

It’s not true, for example, that we are alone or that we have to “do it all” by ourselves. However, we’ve been so trained to believe it that we forget how to make friends, build community, or trust God’s power.

While sometimes we think we need to do it all, on the other hand sometimes we focus too much on our weakness or our incapacity to make an impact or change a situation. We need to find a balance between our own sense of control and our human limitations. We are quite vulnerable in these “clay jars” we call our bodies. To need each other is normal and beautiful. To need God’s tremendous love and strength is understandable.

Trying to deny my weakness can cause me to push and push to the point of depleting myself and my inner resources. Trusting in God’s greater power, though, can give me endurance and hope and perseverance. Loosening my grip, God has room to rush in.

Today’s hymn calls to mind a favorite scripture of mine: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). We have a strong God who nourishes us. Opening ourselves to God’s strength can help us find balance. I am weak alone but strong with God.

---

Prayer
God of Strength, I am worthy of your love and grateful for your belief in me. Help me to trust in your strength, to believe in you as much as you believe in me. Amen.

---

Written by Nanette Sawyer, Associate Pastor for Discipleship and Small Group Ministry

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

Devotion index by date | I’d like to receive daily devotions by email