Powerlessness (1)

Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.  (Jonah 2:8 NIV)

The words in Step one of the 12-Step program of Alcoholics Anonymous is an admission of our powerlessness over things which have become worthless idols to us.  Some of the things we have idolized are addictive substances, people, sex, pornography, gaming, and other such things which we relied on to sustain life as we know it.  When we admit that dependence on our harmful addictions is outside of our control, we need to take action because, if ignored, we will continue to spiral downwards into a life of degradation.

Friends, why are you doing this? We are merely human beings—just like you! We have come to bring you the Good News that you should turn from these worthless things and turn to the living God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them.  (Acts 14:15 NLT)

Finally, we've now come to the point where we realize the lie.  Our way doesn't work.  We admit we are powerless over our problems and now, powerless to even function as we have managed to do in the past.  Life has become totally unmanageable.  Regardless of our fallen state, those things we may have gained or lost, what we have achieved, or where we have failed to meet expectations, we have reached the point where we can no longer cope with life as we know it.  We admit surrender. We are like an army that can no longer advance against the enemy.  We admit defeat and turn to God for mercy and grace.

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.  (Hebrews 4:15-16 NIV)

If we are willing to surrender to Him, God will give us the strength we need to change, and will work with us to help us do what we cannot do for ourselves.  In fact, Jesus said He came to seek and save people exactly like us, in circumstances just like ours.

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.  (Luke 19:10 NLT)

©2015 Partners in Hope