Encouragement:
Gideon's Story
by Judy Morris

The Lord has laid on my heart to share with you some encouragement He gave me some time ago when I was feeling very tired, discouraged, and overwhelmed -- like there was no light at the end of the tunnel.

As it happened, (by divine appointment, I’m sure), the Scripture reading for that day was from the Old Testament story of Gideon (Judges 6). Most of us know the story of Gideon’s fleece, and of how Gideon ends up rescuing his country from the enemy with only 300 men because God is with him. But this was the first time I’d ever noticed the beginning of the story -- and God spoke to my heart through it.

The story begins with the Israelites being terribly oppressed by their enemies, and “they cried out to the Lord for help.” [We can identify with that!] Gideon is working in fear, threshing wheat in a wine press to try to hide from the enemy.

God sends an angel who comes and says to Gideon, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior!” This is a surprising greeting -- from all external evidences, it doesn’t look like (a) the Lord is with him or (b) Gideon is any kind of a warrior, much less a mighty one!

Gideon immediately questions, “If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all the wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.” [Don’t we feel abandoned sometimes, and like we’re not experiencing any of the good things that God has done in the past, or that He’s doing for other people? Don’t we wonder how these bad things can be happening to us, if God is indeed with us? ]

God’s answer to Gideon, through the angel, is, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” [WHAT? Gideon is hiding in fear, he’s just expressed his feeling that the Lord isn’t doing wonders anymore and that God has abandoned him. Wasn’t God listening??? And now God tells him to “go in the strength he has?!” WHAT strength? Is God kidding? ]

Gideon protests -- as we do -- that he is weak and inadequate. God answers, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.” [Wow. If God has picked him for this, if God is sending him on this mission, and if God promises to be with him....hmmm, this changes things.]

About this time Gideon decides that he needs a sign that this IS really God speaking -- after all, the message is so unlikely -- and God gives him a sign by consuming his offering in fire.

Gideon says, “Ah, Sovereign Lord! I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face!” and God responds, “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.”

So Gideon builds an altar to the Lord there and calls it “The Lord is Peace.” [How we long for peace in our homes, and for freedom from fear! ]

Lord, this story speaks to my heart in many ways. Do I feel overwhelmed? Gideon’s situation was much more desperate, tense, and dangerous as well. Even though I feel weak and inadequate, You equip me to be a mighty warrior. You have chosen me and my family for this time and this task. You want us to go in the strength we have, and to know that You have commissioned us, and You will be with us. You are Peace -- in the midst of tiredness -- anxieties -- children’s squabbling -- academic challenges -- emotional upheavals -- confusion -- heartbreak -- frustration -- YOU are Peace.

Father, help me to remember these things today, and in the days to come:

• You are with me
• You equip me to be a mighty warrior
• You want me to go in the strength I have been given
• You are sending me
• You will be with me
• I do not need to fear
• You are my peace

Dear friends, may God be your Peace, your Strength, and your Enabler in the midst of the trials you face, and may you experience for yourself His faithfulness and His provision.

©Copyright 2006 by ADHD of the Christian Kind.