Allergy Medication
September 28, 2011
If you find yourself reaching for a tissue while you read this post, it’s probably not because it’s a tear jerker, most likely you have some sort of allergy. You and at least 54% of Americans according to the National Institute of Health are allergic to something. Allergies of all kinds are on the rise in America and other developed countries and no one seems to know the reason why. In addition to peanuts, tree nuts, cat dander, and ragweed, many of us have also developed another type of allergy. We are severely allergic to helplessness. There’s no scientific evidence on this particular sensitivity; in fact, it’s not a new issue on the health and welfare scene. I first noticed this malady in my own daughter at 15 months old when she declared to me, “I DO IT MYSELF!” At the time, she was climbing up the ladder by herself into the back of a ski boat. I have a feeling that mothers since the beginning of time have heard that phrase ringing in their ears.
The problem with being allergic to helplessness is simple. We try to fix all our problems in our own strength and we were not created to function in this way. When Elohym (Creator God) fashioned us in His own image, He did so with amazing natural talents and abilities but He never intended that we be “sufficient” in our own power. He alone is our Sufficiency and He bears the name El Shaddai – the All Sufficient One.
Being allergic to helplessness doesn’t make us break out in a rash (although I suppose it could) it makes break out in doubt. We doubt God’s sufficiency in our lives. Does He really see what is going on here? Yes, He does because He is El Roi – the God Who sees. Why doesn’t He act on our behalf? He probably is working – but we are blinded to His mysterious ways. Because we don’t focus on God and His Sufficiency, we often only see the problem and rather than confront our helplessness, we act in our own wisdom and might.
Abram was brought face to face with El Shaddai in Genesis 17:1.
“I am God Almighty; walk before Me and be blameless.”
Abram’s reaction to being brought face to face with God? He “fell on his face” before El Shaddai. There is no more helpless position than being face down and yet that is the only proper response to the One who is Sufficient for all our hopes and dreams, our struggles and trials, our failures and misfortunes. What can we really “do” for ourselves outside of God’s mighty hand? Nothing – for in our power, we are truly helpless. But He has All Power and He is willing and able to reach down, help you up, and display His Sufficiency on your behalf.(CT)
“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak (helpless) then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10