Reaching the Boiling Point

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When Life Feels Too Big To Battle

Psalm 33:29, “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield."

My stomach churned with frustration as I made dinner alone for the third night in a row.  Since my husband and I both travel in ministry, we made a deal to not be apart for more than three days.  But we’d made an exception, which meant I had the boys alone for two more days.

The temperature in the pot rose as I boiled noodles for Mac’n’Cheese.  My impatience was also rising with each fight or scream.  I strained the noodles, added cheese mix, and daydreamed about my great escape.  When Clayton walked through that door, I would simultaneously grab my keys, get in the car and travel to a land far away. Ok, realistically, I was only headed to the coffee shop down the road, but a break is a break.

My humanity was erupting, but a familiar calm was also creeping into my soul.  It beckoned me to let go of my anger, but my flesh was clinched the “right” to pout about my “unfair situation.”  And then the Holy Spirit whispered, “Don’t forget you are Clayton’s ‘Ezer.”  I was humbled.

In Genesis 2:18, “God recognized it was not good for Adam to be alone, so he made a suitable helper for him.”  “Ezer” is the Hebrew word for “strong helper in this passage.  Ezer can mean: to rescue, to save, strength, or an indispensible pillar. 

Jesus was calling me to rise above my flesh, to live by his power in me.  But, my flesh was taunting me to console myself in bitterness.  How could Jesus expect me to be an indispensable pillar for my family, when I was at the end of my rope?

“Ezer” is also used to describe God’s role in our lives. Psalm 33:29 says, “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”  When I’m at the end of my strength, I can only be a “strong helper” for my family if I rely on God to “rescue me, save me, give me strength, and be my indispensable pillar.” 

Jesus is my Ezer when Clayton is gone.  He will protect me from resenting Clayton for his absence, my children for being overly energetic, and myself for feeling like a failure. This does not mean my husband and I cannot depend on each other, but our primary source of strength has to be in Jesus.  We cannot do it alone.

Tangible Takaway:

Is it hard for you to believe in Jesus as your source of strength?  Take time to discover what has hindered your trust and then confess your weakness and doubt to Him.  Finally, ask Him to prove His faithfulness to you.

Offer It Up:

Dear Lord Jesus, it’s hard to trust when we can’t physically see or tangibly touch you. Please meet us in our weakness.  Be our strong pillar to carry us through the situations we feel like are impossible.  Give us faith for our doubt. 

© 2014 by Sharie King.  All rights reserved.

Sweet Tweet:

• Psalm 33:29, “We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield.”
• I was created, in Christ to do good works. Serving my family is fully within the capacity of my calling.
• Jesus was calling me to rise above my flesh by his power. But my flesh was tempting me to console myself in bitterness.