Something…or nothing?

On September 13th in 1994, a daughter of the King was born. For nine months her family had patiently awaited the arrival of this creation. Throughout that nine months, they had expected a boy: Nicholas Thomas Dean, but upon arrival, surprised, my name was changed to Elizabeth Grace-Marie. I entered this world as an infant. A helpless babe of whom needed to be nurtured and cared for; but I grew. I grew to become a toddler, then a little one, then a little girl, then a “big” girl, then a young lady, then a young woman, and now something between a woman and a young woman. With the years of physical growth came mental, emotional, and spiritual growth. I went through grade school, middle school, some of high school, and some of college too. I’ve learned that dating is overrated and waiting is so important. I’ve learned that people can be a challenge, but they are always worth it. I’ve learned that we live in a spiritual world in physical bodies. I’ve also learned that living for Christ is a big responsibility that can be taken lightly all too often. But yet, through all of this learning and growing, I am still nothing.

Many, many century’s ago, another child entered this world. He entered the world, Son of the King, the same way I did. He grew up the same way I did. He learned and grew mentally, emotionally, and physically, just like I did. Yet he was something.

Christ was created to be a King. He was created for a grand purpose that was greater than he himself: to save the world. He was born for greatness. He was something.

But I am nothing. I am simply Elizabeth Grace-Marie. I am not a Queen, not even a princess. I was not created to save the world; I can’t even save myself. I am not capable of great things, nor can I perform miracles. I am nothing.

Sometimes it is hard to see God’s greater purpose. Sometimes the only thing I see is the mountain that looms in front of me that I can’t see beyond. All I see is the massive amount of earth that needs to be conquered. And when I compare how small I am compared to this mountain, I feel even smaller. I am nothing. When I feel trapped in a dark hole so deep under the ground that I can’t see the light of day and I give up because I know I can’t find my way out; so I stop trying.  I am nothing. When I am faced with arguments or frustration or anger or condescension, instead of responding with patience and love, I lash out. I am nothing. When God tells me to speak to someone or pray over someone or speak truth into someone’s life and I know I should, yet my feet stay rooted to the ground. I am nothing. When God speaks clearly, yet I refuse to listen, once again I am nothing.

I am nothing.

Yet God has called me to be something.

Me + Me = Nothing

BUT…

Me + God = Something

I am nothing on my own. I really am simply Elizabeth Grace-Marie. Yet through Christ’s sacrifice, I am made into something. Only through God can we be made into something greater than ourselves. Only through Him can we accomplish great things. Only through Him.

Two verses that explain our weaknesses well are:

2 Corinthians 12:9 ~~~ ‘But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’

2 Corinthians 13:4 ~~~ ‘For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him to serve you.’

Quite often, when God asks me to do something the thought that immediately comes to mind is: “But I am nothing. I can’t do that! That’s WAY to big for me.” But I think I forget Who I have on my side. I think I underestimate the power that God has. I think that I am so blinded by the comprehensible greatness of the mountain that God is telling me to climb, that I forget the incomprehensible greatness of my God.

I want to live as something. I want to fulfill all the plans that my God has prepared for me, however big or small. I want to “boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

God has a great plan for me. And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that the plan He has for me is greater than the plan I have for myself. But only through Him will His plan be completed. I know that God doesn’t speak just to speak. He doesn’t coach just for the sake of coaching, He doesn’t move just to move, and —–He doesn’t love just to love.

I will trust in His promises.

John 3:30 says, “He must become greater; I must become less.”

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