When You Don't Have it in You - Encouragement for Today - Jan. 9

January 9, 2013 When You Don't Have It In You Renee Swope

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

I was completely blindsided. I'd been called into a meeting at my church with another woman in leadership who had been upset with me for months. But I was just finding out about it.

Someone told her I didn't agree with her leadership style. But that wasn't what I'd said - months before - in a meeting with several other leaders. I had been asked my opinion about a situation and shared my thoughts. It broke my heart that I was just being asked about it now, many months later.

We both volunteered countless hours in ministry, pouring our hearts and lives into women in our church. All the while, we were on the same team and assumed we fully supported one another. But now the trust we'd built for years was unraveling.

It was a mess. I was a mess.

I decided I was done. I just didn't have it in me. I wasn't strong enough or resilient enough. And I was exhausted from the hurt I felt and the hurt I had caused.

That afternoon I went home and cried. Told God I was ready to call it quits. Laying my head down on my desk, I said I couldn't do it anymore.

But then a truth that had been buried deep in my heart surfaced: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

And in that moment, I knew if I was willing to die to myself and completely rely on Christ in me I could experience His resurrection power in this place of depletion - where I had nothing left to give.

There was no way around this crossroad: I could either walk away from God's calling on my life or I could allow Jesus to live HIS life through me.

I could die to my desire to protect myself from getting hurt again and choose to tap into His power by relying on the strength of His Spirit.

I wasn't enough ... wasn't strong enough, resilient enough, or humble enough, but Christ in me was more than enough.

You see Jesus did not die on the cross just to get us out of hell and into heaven. He died on the cross to get Himself out of heaven and into us! That is resurrection life - and the very place where we get our enough!

If you have been crucified with Christ, you no longer live, but Christ lives in you. The life you now live in your body, you can choose to live by faith in the Son of God, who loved you and gave Himself for you.

I opted to rely on the Holy Spirit within me as my friend and I navigated this tough leadership situation. It wasn't easy, but it was good and it helped restore our friendship. The next time you and I find ourselves at tough relational crossroads—choosing to walk away from God's calling on our life or allowing Jesus to live HIS life through us—let's allow HIM to be our enough! For indeed He is.

Dear Lord, You are mighty, and holy, and strong. And I thank You that Your sweet Holy Spirit is more than enough to help me die to myself and let YOU live through me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
How do we stop letting life's hurts and hardships knock us down? In her award-winning book, A Confident Heart, Renee walks with you through the process of gaining spiritual resilience and lasting God confidence! You'll discover how to live in Christ by allowing Him to live His life in you and through you!

Renee's FREE Confident Heart devotions. Filled with daily insights, powerful promises and scripture-based prayers, you'll receive a week's worth of life-changing encouragement! Find out more here.

Connect with Renee on Facebook for more life-changing perspectives and promises from God's Word!

Reflect and Respond:
Prepare your mind and heart for the next time relationship conflicts arise. Decide now that you will allow Christ in you - through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit - to be enough and let Him live through you in those tough situations.

Bury this verse deep in your heart: "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

Power Verses:
Philippians 1:21, "For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better." (NLT)

1 Peter 5:5, "... And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." (NASB)

© 2013 by Renee Swope. All rights reserved.

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