9 March | Youth
«When the angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon, he said, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”» Judges 6:12, NIV
In the book of Judges, we meet a timid leader named Gideon. The first time he is mentioned in the biblical account, he is hiding in a wine press, afraid of the Midianites. However, when the Angel of the Lord appears to him, he calls him a “mighty warrior.” When he heard this, Gideon revealed the low opinion he had of himself: “My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house” (Judg 6:15). Gideon only saw his limitations. His sense of incapacity was accompanied by insecurity, fear and distrust.
Gideon did not see himself as powerful or as a warrior, but the Lord did. The way we deal with our limitations causes many of us to waste opportunities. We live hiding and passively accepting the opinions of others, being humiliated at work, in relationships, in church activities and in so many other areas of life. Many give up fighting because they do not think they are capable.
The best treatment to face the difficulties caused by low self-esteem is to know that the Lord knows us and loves us. We need to remember that He is developing a unique plan for our lives. God carries out His plans on Earth using people like you and me. He knows our limitations, but He works more easily with insecurity than with pride.
Gideon is an example of how God chooses and uses the smallest of men to perform the greatest of tasks. God uses people, no matter how insecure they are. Gideon's greatness was not in his physical strength or his self-confidence. He stood out in history not because he was a great man but because he had a great God.
The only way to get a proper perspective on our limitations is to know the God who commissions us. God is able to transform the weak, the timid and the insecure to give great victories to His people. He will do for you what He did for Gideon. If He calls you a “mighty warrior,” believe it! He is powerful to make real what He says.