Tug-o-War; Strengthen your Feeble Arms
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. Hebrews 12:12
My following Jesus started because He kept something from me that I wanted, something I wanted badly enough that I was willing to battle Him for it (silly impertinent girl…).
Tug-o-war, a hand to hand struggle for supremacy, a contest of strength. Tug-o-war, the most dreaded of games for a girl with skinny arms. Imagine me with my dangly arms engaging with the omnipotent God of the universe in a game of tug-o-war and my need for a solid pair of muck boots becomes readily apparent, as does my prideful arrogance.
He invites you to battle, like a formidable opponent waiting for a willing challenger. If you choose to engage and dare to persist at the tugging and warring long enough, He wins. It is the inevitable outcome.
He wins, you lose.
Losing this battle is the best thing that will ever happen to you. Quitting this battle, the absolute worst.
Losing this battle is the best thing that will ever happen to you. Quitting this battle, the absolute worst.
Losing a genuine game of tug-o-war does more than leave your hands torn up. Losing leaves you down, on your face, in a thick mess of mud. After losing to this opponent, you are not left on your face in the mud. He does not kick you while you are down, does not shame you for your weakness or in your defeat. No, instead, He reaches down and picks you up out of the mud and mire (Psalm 40:2). Bending low to gently take your hand, He stands you up.
He does not turn and walk away while you stand, caked with mud and filth. He remains, sprinkling clean water on you and makes you clean (Ezekiel 36:25).
He then gifts you with a new wardrobe, garments of salvation, a robe of righteousness, and adorns you with jewels suitable for a bride (Isaiah 61:10). He trades your muddy war clothes for wedding attire, your muck boots for wedding shoes.
If you are afraid, tentative, hurt too many times by too many others, He lovingly, with long-suffering, woos you (Hosea 2:14) until you trust Him. And the defeat that lands you in the mud becomes to you a door of hope (Hosea 2:15). (Your participatory prize is a door of hope! You lose and then receive a door of hope!)
He calls you by a new name, known only by you (Revelation 2:17). He grants you a new identity, trading your muddy past for that which is eternally new.
He holds you fast (Psalm 139:10), tightly and does not let go. He does not let you slip, and keeps your ankles from turning (as they sometimes do in wedding shoes) (Psalm 18:36).
You will know Him as He knows you (1 Corinthians 13:12), intimately and authentically (Psalm 139:1-4).
For this Christ will have His bride, redeemed, restored and radiant (Ephesians 5:27).
What is it that you desire in this upside down, muddy world? What is it that beckons you to battle, that which you cannot obtain on your own? Do you want direction? Joy? Peace that passes all understanding? Eternal purpose? Healing? Freedom from your past or your present? Security? Satisfaction? Do you want abundance? Do you desire to have the bottomless empty in your heart filled to the brim and overflowing?
Strengthen your feeble arms and battle, battle until you fall. Strengthen your weak arms until it is overwhelmingly apparent to you who retains the eternal position of absolute supremacy. Then prepare to receive the desires of your heart, prepare to delight in Him who bends low to stand you up (Psalm 37:4).
He will delight you, in the sweetest, kindest, most thoughtful ways. You will laugh out loud with Him, surprised by the absolute perfection of His gifts, bestowed upon you at just the exact moment. Tears will fall at the wonder that He could know your heart so closely, that He would pay attention. You war clothes will be forgotten, your muck boots forever replaced.
If this is not yet who Jesus is to you, keep battling. Strengthen your feeble arms and battle until you lose.
“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the LORD.”
Hosea 2:19-20
