Have you ever glanced down at your phone and panicked because the battery icon was bright red or blinking, and showed 1%? How could that be you ponder (then realizing you forgot to charge it overnight)?
It’s amazing how those of us who grew up with only a landline freak out when disconnected from our cell phones. We instantly start looking for an outlet like a person searching for water in a desert. Until we get recharged, we feel powerless.
The truth is, we tend to treat our lives the same way. We look at the pile of past mistakes behind us, or the overwhelming “to-do” list in front of us, and think, “I’m at 1%. I don’t have enough battery power left! I can’t handle this.” We forget that, unlike a smartphone, we don’t run on an external battery. We’re plugged into an infinite, internal power source. You don’t need to panic hunting for an outlet; the power plant is already running inside you. You just need to be reminded to tap into it.
A classic quote reminds us: “What lies behind us and what lies before us are small compared to what lies within us.” The Bible, in 2 Timothy 1:7, offers an idea as to what that “within” is. Paul writes: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
Notice what God didn’t put inside us: fear, panic, or a tendency to overthink things at 3:00 AM. Those things are our invention … and they drain a lot of power. Instead, God packed us with power to endure, love to give away, and a sound mind to make good choices.
The things behind you might be heavy, and the things before you might look intimidating, but they are minuscule compared to the Holy Spirit living within you. When you feel like you have enough power to get through the day, quiet down, look inward, and remember who is running the engine. Walk today with confidence, not because of your strength, but because of His.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you that my strength doesn’t depend on me and the power I can generate. Forgive me for operating out of fear and forgetting the incredible power source inside me. When I feel overwhelmed, fill me with your power to face any obstacle, your love to handle difficult people, and your peace to stay calm. Amen.
