I Can Take Things From Here

Pastor Meyer (from The Rock Lutheran Church) delivered a beautiful message this morning in chapel.

He held up a milkweed, and had a congregation member touch it to verify its sharp points.

He explained that these are very dangerous when cattle get stuck in them. The cattle get their legs caught in the milkweed, and begin to violently kick and try and kick their legs out of it.

The kicking and the cow trying to get out of the milkweed by itself only makes matters worse. The cow's legs start bleeding, and if the cow does not give up trying to escape from the milkweed on its own, it eventually bleeds to death.

Thankfully, there are ranchers who watch out for this very scenario and come to the "rescue", and free the cow from the painful milkweed.

I think that lately, I've been a cow.

In some circumstances, I've had the attitude of "Thanks God, but I can take it from here." "I don't need your help, but thanks."

And the truth is, I've only gotten myself more worked up into my milkweed. And if I hadn't turned to God, I would still be bleeding, trying to free myself.

The truth is, I can't do it on my own. I need my Savior, my God to come and free me from the milkweed that I've gotten caught in.

Even lately, with some of my problems with schoolwork, family, relationships, etc. I've said "Thanks God, for your help, but I think I can take it from here."

And I've only wound up more caught up in the milkweed.

Thankfully, we have a God who always welcomes us back into His arms and is always ready to come to the rescue and free us from the milkweed.

My prayer is that I continue to turn to God in prayer for all of my problems. It's easy to have a problem and say "I think I can handle this, God. Don't worry, I can take things from here."

But I can't do anything without God. He is my Rock and my foundation. When I turn to Him, in turn he says "Thanks for trying, but I can take things from here. I won't need your help."