Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– J.I. Packer
Leaning on the Rock
Like the old church hymn, Standing on the Promises, we can stand on the Rock Solid promises of God that never fail. Not one word ever uttered by God has failed to come to pass nor can it ever be silenced. The childless Hannah cried out to God, “There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God” (1st Sam 2:2) and in crying out to God, the barren Hannah was heard and God answered her prayer with not one child, but three sons and two daughters.
Falling on our Knees
We are never stronger in reliance upon God as when we fall to our knees. No one is ever in a better position to receive God’s good grace than when they humble themselves and cry out to Him because God will resist every prideful person but will extend His grace only to the humble of heart (James 4:6). Falling on our knees before God shows that we are humbling ourselves before Him and being fully dependent upon Him, and that’s just what He desires of us.
Strengthened through Christ
The Apostle Paul knew “how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Phil 4:12) and what Paul learned was “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13), which if this is reversed, means we can’t do anything of ourselves, just as Jesus said (John 15:5). In Christ, all things; in ourselves, nothing!
Conclusion
By the way, it’s not our strength that we can boast about. Only in our weaknesses can we boast but in this, we can be made strong through Jesus Christ Who alone gives us the ability to do anything. The harder we lean on God, the more secure our footing will be in life because the Rock doesn’t move; the Word never fails.
