Carry me

Greatness lies, not in being strong, but in the right using of strength; and strength is not used rightly when it serves only to carry a man above his fellows for his own solitary glory. He is the greatest whose strength carries up the most hearts by the attraction of his own. (Henry Ward Beecher)

I pose the question today of who specifically it is that you are carrying? Are you carrying yourself, concerned only with your own reputation, focused merely on what you find you will obtain from the 'greatness' you are portraying? Or are you carrying others, sometimes without number, into that place of greatness, not on your coat-tails, but in the places of your heart and soul that truly help get them from where they are to where you imagine they can be? We might think we need to develop more strength for the battle, but it could be we just need to come alongside someone so that we both make it through the battle together!

No king succeeds with a big army alone, no warrior wins by brute strength. Horsepower is not the answer; no one gets by on muscle alone. Watch this: God’s eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. He’s ready to come to their rescue in bad times; in lean times he keeps body and soul together. We’re depending on God; he’s everything we need. What’s more, our hearts brim with joy since we’ve taken for our own his holy name. Love us, God, with all you’ve got—
that’s what we’re depending on. (Psalm 33:16-22 MSG)

We can be very strong, but quite weak at the same time. Some might find that hard to imagine, but if we stop to really consider it, we might just find it true. The strongest among us are sometimes the loneliest! They are sometimes the hardest to get to know and are the hardest to be around! Why? It could be they haven't learned how to use their strength as wisely as they should, or it could be they have no idea how to use that strength to better the lives of another. Strength alone doesn't make us strong - it is the combined 'strength' that comes from realizing grace carries us so that we can in turn assist in carrying others!

I ask again - who are you carrying? If there is no one, you are likely most miserable in your journey! The strength we are given not just for our own benefit - it is meant to be used to assist another in the journey. Greatness is not strength and strength is not greatness. Sometimes we equate the two, but I have seen many a strong person with no position or power other than that they immensely love God and have been touched deeply by his grace. I have observed many a 'great person' who possesses absolutely no strength themselves, relying on the efforts of others for everything they achieve. 

God isn't after our greatness - he is after our hearts. In touching our hearts, he makes us great! In making us great, he desires for us to help others be great. In giving us strength, he hopes we will use that strength to urge another along their course, or carrying them for a while when they cannot do it any longer on their own. We don't find our strength in all the places the world seems to think we will. It isn't in stature, or fame, or money. It is simply found in the deepest places of our need - for in those places we come face-to-face with his grace and nothing, absolutely nothing, makes us stronger than grace! Just sayin!