More Than I can Handle

 

Some days, I just want to stay in bed.  This morning, the kids came in, laughing, with a Dora backpack, singing "Backpack backpack."  I prayed to God for strength, then went back to sleep.  Then later, Blane came in a said, "Dit up." (Get up)  Then, I mustered all strength and slid out of bed.  I went directly to fix coffee.  On the way, I stumbled upon Blane's mess of beads he had spread all over the boy's room.  Last night, Blane was coughing so I had to get him medicine twice, and I kept listening to him cough.  On a morning like this, I ask, "How will I teach these kids today?"

 

Many days, I get overwhelmed with all that has to be done, normal cleaning, laundry, teaching, and the big one, chasing my cute boy around and cleaning up his messes.  Sometimes, I feel like I have taken on more than I can handle.  Some days, everyone seems to need extra attention, and I have no more to give.

 

God is teaching me that in my weakness, He can show His strength.  I have heard that over and over, but I am trying to claim that.  I just read the book Kisses from Katie.  She talks about how people say, "God won't give you more than you can handle."  She says that she does not believe this is true, because when we have more than we can handle, we turn to God and He will give us strength or He will show Himself strong.  I also believe this is true.  God is at work, in our weakness.  God used weak and sinful people throughout the Bible.  Often, we remember the stories and speak of great heroes of the Bible, as if they were great people.  In reality, they were scared, weak, or sinful, but God decided to use them for His purposes. 
 

John 15:5 says, "I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  (NIV) 
As I am with my kids all day, I need the fruits of the spirit.  I need joy and love and patience.  Hey, I need all of them more!  I can't have these fruits without God making these grow in my life.
 

Philippians 4: 13 says, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." (NIV)  So I can do all things through Christ, and nothing without Christ.  I need Christ to do the work in my life as I remain in Him and obey Him.

During these winter months, when my heart grows restless and I want off from school, even more than my kids, I am brought back to these verses.  Psalm 119: 36-37 says, "Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain.  Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word." (NIV)  May each of us cling to Christ each day, for strength, for fruit that we long to see in our lives, and for hope of eternity.