samson and that one girl

by sassychick ~ My son and I just sat down to read a book which had the story of Samson and Delilah.  Of course Ive read this unique and extremely interesting story ALL MY LIFE.  I’m aware that there is a lesson in every story, but revelatory word, in this story?  I think God knows how to teach me.  Im simple and I love lessons to be illustrated.  So what does God often do, teach me through something intended for a child.  Go figure.  I had one particular crying episode during a veggietales episode called Snoodles Tale, I highly recommend it, it’s a lesson in self-worth –I apparently needed.  No kidding broke down, crying.  And I finally got it.  What my worth was.  And how it was not a measurement I could grasp.  It was heavenly mathematics.  I finally got it.  Through a 15 minute cartoon.

And then there’s today.  Samson and Delilah.  We all know the story.  The guy is strong.  The girl is relentless.  He fails.  She wins.  Strength gone.  Oh, but there’s so much more. 

We have all been granted gifts/talents/abilities.  These are God treasures for us and us alone.  They are one of the ways God makes us different.  Be it music, writing, singing, speaking, creating, on and on there are as many different ones as there are people.  One thing is certain.  We have all been given unique “strengths”.  Here is the problem.  Every day we will face Delilah.  She isn’t a person, necessarily.  Sometimes she is circumstance.  She is an event.  She is a job.  But she has a purpose.  She is relentless.  Her purpose is to discover our God given treasure “strength” and take it for her own benefit.  Rob us of God’s purpose.  Distract us from our intent here on earth.  She is satisfied even if she wins temporarily.  She is relentlessly pursuing a method of distraction of God’s people.  And for most of us, Delilah is accomplishing her mission.

I find it so interesting that some of our best accomplishments for God's kingdom can be so quickly overshadowed by distraction.  Be it in the form of conflict, offense, miscommunication, etc.   We tend to agonize over a man's opinion and miss God's loving words of what we are, can be, will be, were created to be.  We silence God's encouragement in an attempt to better hear man's rejection.

It wasn't about Samson losing his strength.  It was about him allowing himself to be derailed for God's unmistakable intent for his life.  Willingly.  What's ridiculous is there was NO mistaking what he had to do.  NOT CUT HIS HAIR.  It was also even more clear God's will for him.  Come on.  I'd give anything for it to be that cut and dry.

I do believe we all know our "strengths".  I don't believe God's intent is to keep that a secret from us.  So we know what we are working with, the next step is to identify what's robbing our "strength".  I don't believe God's intent is to keep THAT a secret either.  As with Samson, it was BLATANTLY obvious Delilah's scheme.  And he willingly submitted. 

Don't kid yourself, Delilahs are not always so easy to spot.  And they are even harder to resist.  The very reason God has set you apart will be used to make you question your effectiveness.  The unique way in which God created you to exist, your very personality, Delilah will twist into making you believe are liabilities.  Before long you will second guess you worth, the way in which you relate to others, and before long, you will indeed become ineffective.  Not because of who you are, but because you have willingly allowed the lie to rob your "strength".

I know I have, for too long, allowed this in my own life.  Perhaps my revelation can help you to get through your valley more quickly.

It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living. -Eph 1:11

Comments

[socialchick]

Thanks for sharing! I have also had a revelation like this over the past 2 weeks. Why do I let circumstances and opions doubt my calling and gifts. This was an awesome revelation that you had even if it was in a childs book. Seek and you shall find! lol!

[Pastor Rick]

Andrea,
You have just learned somthing from Holy Spirit that man can not teach you. There are messages in Gods word that are designed for only you to find, then it becomes a testimony to share to all!I'm extremely proud of you and look at you as my daughter. Keep your heart(mind) open to the word of God and you will be used in many spiritual ways.

Love you and yours much
Pastor Rick

[singerchick]

This is such an awesome revelation. Just what I personally needed to hear. Thank you so much for sharing!! Now I think I need to go back and read it again and then maybe again. :-)

[Jessica W.]

I know what you mean about learning stuff from cartoons. I'm also very fond of A Snoodle's Tale and also cried when I first saw it. Thanks for sharing the word in this story...I never thought of it like that!

[bossychick]

this is so true, thanks