Just Believe

Okay, so let me be honest. That last post had the highlights of March. To every highlight, there were at least a dozen low lights. I keep questioning how I am ever going to get through the tantrums, the fighting, the jealousy, the miscommunication....the list goes on and on. I am run down, angry, frustrated and have been searching for strength for quite a while. Meanwhile, a friend emailed me asking me to find a verse to help her get through her tough week. So as I'm paging through my Bible for a truth she can hang onto, low and behold, I find one that was just right for both of us. It read:

I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Ephesians 1:19 & 20 (New Living Translation, emphasis added)

I read that verse over and over and realized I was reading it all wrong. I was reading it, "for us who believe IN him". I'm thinking, "well, I believe IN him but I don't understand this great power nor do I feel like I have it. What's wrong here?" But believing IN him and believing him are two different things for me. Yes, I can say I believe that Jesus is the Son of God but do I simply and truly believe him when he says things like "he gives us the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead?" Say what? That same power is within me? Amazing!

I picture the scene in Matthew where Peter starts to walk on the water and then a wind comes and he gets scared and starts to sink. Then Jesus says to him "you of little faith, why do you doubt?" Jesus must be saying this to me over and over everyday. I have the power within me to have joy and strength in every situation but it's hard to believe that. I want to know more. I sent that one to my girlfriend and I'm posting it here because it is my prayer that all of us who read it will truly believe in that power and learn to rely on it. Think of the things we could do, the joy we could have if we actually believed that the very power that we celebrate this Easter is available to all of us who accept that it's there.

Celebrating Easter 2010 from Mari Goerlich on Vimeo.