Can’t Handle It? God Already Knows
By Rick Warren
“God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5 CSB).
If you start thinking about all the problems you’ve ever had, then you’ll realize that they all have one thing in common: you. When you reach that point, the best choice is to humble yourself and confess your inadequacy.
This is what King Jehoshaphat did when three powerful armies were coming to wage war against him. He said, “We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do” (2 Chronicles 20:12 NLT). When he confessed, he was able to worship instead of worry.
Confessing your inadequacy can be hard. Humbling yourself is rarely easy or fun.
God wants you to humble yourself because the Bible says, “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5 CSB).
Pride repels God’s grace, but humility attracts it. God wants to pour his grace into your life, but he won’t do it as long as pride is in the way. So you have to humble yourself and confess your inadequacy.
Here’s the great thing about confessing your inadequacy: You’re just telling God what he already knows! When you tell him, “I can’t handle this,” that is no surprise to God. In fact, Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5 NIV).
But Philippians 4:13 tells the rest of the story: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (NKJV).
Christ is powerful; you are powerless. There is no middle ground. But like the verse says, when we rely on him, Christ will give us strength.
So, when you find yourself facing the impossible, you have to confess your inadequacy. He won’t force himself into your situation. But he is ready and waiting to respond to your confession.
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Fill Your Home with Joy and Hope this Christmas!
With Christmas right around the corner, we want to help you spend the holidays worshipping instead of worrying. Slowing down and reconnecting with God. And expressing gratitude for the true meaning of the season.
That’s why Pastor Rick and his wife Kay created the Daily Hope Advent devotional booklet with a companion calendar. This 2-part resource is the perfect way to prepare your heart for the real celebration.
Praise God for the gift of Jesus and build joyful anticipation as Christmas draws near with the 24-day devotional booklet, featuring a special family activity each Sunday. And enjoy the beautiful, custom artwork of the Advent calendar, with a special door for every day of December that opens to reveal a hidden image and encouraging Bible verse.
We’ll send you the Advent devotional booklet and calendar as thanks for your gift below to help share the gift of Jesus with more people through Daily Hope. Be sure to request yours today so that you can start using it on December 1!
*The USA IRS code permits you to deduct the amount of your financial gift to Daily Hope that exceeds the fair market value of materials you received from Daily Hope.
This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
You can listen to Rick Warren on OnePlace.com.
