We're walking through quite a season of separation anxiety with our 4 year old. She has always struggled with this in degrees, but an unfortunate experience at the dentist office last month seems to have pushed her over the edge. Heartbreaking? You bet.
It seems we've been pulling out every possible parenting tool hoping that something will bring this season to an end. One of my favorites, of course, is Scripture. God's word is "living and active" (Hebrews 4:12) and I believe very applicable to any of us, even my preschooler.
Before bedtime the other night (always triggers an episode) I reminded her that God "did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of love, power and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7) She asked, "What kind of power? Like Flower Power?" (from a Backyardigans episode).
Um, not so much.
I tried my best to explain how when we make Jesus the Lord of our life, that the Holy Spirit comes and lives inside of us. That means we have God's power in us to help us. Of course, that raised all sorts of questions in itself. After fielding them to the best of my ability, I had questions in my own mind as well!
So, what is this power God has given us? I have a feeling I could spend a lifetime researching, praying, reading and thinking and never fully comprehend it. And I'm okay with that. There's nothing wrong with seeking answers, but we have to be content that some things will remain a mystery while we're on this earth. God is God after all.
But I ran across a passage today in Ephesians that seems to at least partly answer the question. I had to read it about seven times to really let it sink in . . .
16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:16-21
As an encouragement to the Ephesians, it seems that Paul points out three different workings of Christ's power in us:
1) So that Christ may live and dwell in our hearts (v. 17)
2) To be able to understand and know the fullness of Christ's love for us (v. 18-19)
3) To enable God to do more than we could fathom, or even ask for, through us to bring Him glory (v. 20-21)
Wow. Actually, that's just the tip of the iceberg. Do a search on "power" on Biblegateway.com for the New Testament and just a quick scan of the verses reveals a plethora of other workings of Christ's power in us.
Can I say it again? WOW.
Of course, this power has nothing to do with ourselves. Paul makes that clear in a letter to the Corinthians:
"But we have this power in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." 2 Cor. 4:7
God's power resting in our fragile selves. (I'd put in another WOW here, but that would be redundant I suppose.)
SO.
At least now I have a partial answer for our daughter: Christ's power in us helps us to know Him and His love more, and also to bring Him glory.
And even if she doesn't fully comprehend that now, I pray that God will just cover her in His peace and love during this season of anxiety. And He will, you know.
He's powerful like that.
Love this post! You are really good at explaining passages. We have also had a power issue in the dentist chair with our 3 year old. Good luck!
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