Have you ever had a word or phrase that just resonated deep within you at a particular time in your life?
A guy recently walked through one of the most challenging seasons he could ever remember experiencing. As he recounted it later to me, he described a feeling of “near-drowning”, of struggling just to take his next breath as he navigated the incredible stress, fear, and worry of a serious crisis within his family. The emotional toll it took on him was at times almost more than he could bear.
In response to my question, “How did you get through it?” he replied, “I stopped trying to figure out what would come next along with its stress and struggles, and I startedrepeating these three words instead:
“Greater is He.”
“That simple act,” he continued, “rewrote the narrative of my daily life. I was no longer the savior of my story. Jesus was the Savior of my story, the way He should’ve been all along.”
1 John 4 declares over us, “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” However, that promise and truth of God’s omnipotence too easily slips our minds sometimes, doesn’t it? Sure, we know that God IS great, as in “He’s got the whole world, in His hands…”. But we can easily fall into the presumption that He’s not interested in taking the time to heal my illness, or fix my marriage, or solve my housing situation, or bring me out of debt. When it comes to actually putting our money where our mouth is (or our trust where our worries are), we doubt His ability.
Yet, as my friend experienced, there’s something powerful about speaking God’s might and authority over the details of our lives. And not just the bad ones!
Greater is He than worry. But also, greater is He than earthly happiness.
Greater is He than financial uncertainty. But also, greater is He than material wealth.
Greater is He than depression. But also, greater is He than temporary pleasure.
Greater is He than family dysfunction. But also, greater is He than all our human relationships.
Greater is He than sickness. But also, greater is He than physical health.
Greater is He than death. But also, greater is He than this temporary life.
I want to challenge you, as you go about your week, to speak this truth over your day-to-day – yes, even the “little” things! You might be amazed to realize just how much of your life you didn’t invite God into before, until you see how His power can influence every single thing you do – if only you allow Him to be part of it.
And if you’re currently struggling through a difficult season, take heart, my friend: you are not the savior of your story, but we serve the One who is. Lean into Him. Trust His strength instead of your own. He has not brought you this far only to abandon you now.
Greater is He.
