One year ago, I stood looking at a tree growing from a rock cliff and the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, "It is going to be very hard when you go home.  Very hard.  I'm going to make you like that tree -

able to grow roots in the rock."

I took a deep breath and prepared myself, as much as I knew to, but growing roots into stone is not an easy thing.  Little did I know the course the Holy Spirit would take as He led me into Truth. (John 16:13)

As I began this journey deeper into my weakness and His strength, I was quickly reminded that humility is essential!  As unbearable as the path ahead appeared, I had to choose immediately to submit to it, and thereby opening the floodgates of His grace.  "That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly (those who are humble enough to receive it)." (James 4:6 AMP)

Grace enables us to do what is otherwise impossible.

I also learned the experiential meaning of a few words,

as the route would demand:

• Tenacity: to hold firmly.
• Perseverance: to continue a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
• Persistance: to refuse to give up; to continue insistently; to endure, remain.
• Strength: the power to resist attack.
• Stamina: resistance to fatigue, illness, hardship, etc.

Now, to walk in these attributes with our own strength is very different than finding a supernatural source in our weakness.  The first lasts for a season until our strength is used up.  The second starts at the point of our weakness and so taps into a Sovereign and unending Strength.  We were not created to be strong because of who we are or what we do; we can only truly be strong because of our union with our Creator - and this only in the realization of our

total dependency on Him.

Last week, as I read Ephesians 6:10, suddenly the word "be" stood out.  It says, "Be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]..."  It doesn't say to "do" strong, but to "be" strong.  Our strength cannot come from our own actions, but from our submission to His strength. 

In II Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul came to this glorious discovery.  Paul came to know that his own weakness was the point of potential God was seeking after to demonstrate His own strength.  In fact, it is God's great desire to perfect His strength and power through our seemingly weak and useless bodies.  Imagine the joy Paul felt as he realized the freedom he could gain in this place!  "Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest

(yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!"

As I read this verse sometime this past spring, I saw a picture in my mind of myself crying out to God, my face to the ground.  Then I saw a tent being placed over me.  The Spirit asked me, "What do you see?"  Well, I could only see the tent; I could not see myself praying inside.  The Spirit said, "When you are weak, but covered in God's tent of strength, it is His strength which is visible to those around you - not your weakness."  Wow!  This was an amazing encouragement for me as I had been wondering how I could ever minister in this weak state.  But in humility, by His grace, His strength covers us!

Although the process has been long and wearisome, I can feel my roots going deeper.  I can see His strength increasing.  I have tasted the honey from the Rock (Deut. 32:13) and have been refreshed from the waters which pour forth (I Cor. 10:4).  I will declare with David,

"The Lord lives!  Blessed be my Rock;

and let the God of my salvation be exalted."

(Ps. 18:46)