I woke up this morning sort of frustrated, but God reminded me through His Word and His Spirit that He is sovereign and that all things happen in His timing and under His control.

I’m going to practice my own self-control and restraint in this post and not actually mention what was frustrating me, but the story of Gideon in Judges 6 definitely spoke to me in ways that reminded me that He is patient and gracious with us through all of our humanity, blindness, and ignorance.

“‘But sir,’ Gideon replied, ‘if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt? But now the Lord has abandoned us and put us into the hand of Midian.” (Judges 6:13)

I love the story of Gideon. Gideon is the story of a man who was filled with doubt, uncertainty, and excuses– a man who was initially more focused on his limitations and failures than on the sovereignty of God. It’s a journey into the human mindset, a narrative highlighting our position of weakness and depravity, countered by the Lord’s abundant grace, patience, and power.

God gives us so much rich revelation through this time of history that I feel like I could write 50 blog posts on Gideon’s story alone. Since I don’t have much time to write today, I’ll just leave a word of encouragement for all of you based on this first chapter of Gideon’s story.

Gideon was a man that repeatedly questioned and challenged God, but at the same time had a heart to serve Him. He was a man that gave every excuse in the book as to why he couldn’t do something, but at the same time knew that he could do anything if God was with him. He was a man that was obedient to God, but at the same time still fell into sin, and was afraid to do things for the Lord in public.

Does any of this sound familiar to you? It definitely describes me earlier in my faith walk with Christ, and remnants of these still pop up here and there in my life today.

I am encouraged though, as Gideon was a man that grew from a position of weak faith, to one of resilient obedience to the Lord. Despite his shortcomings, God used him in mighty ways to bring about victory for the nation of Israel and glory to God. It’s a perfect story for those of us who have moments of wavering faith and a lack of confidence. God can easily take all of our mess and weakness, and transform it into purpose and perseverance, for His glory!

If you get a chance, read through the story of Gideon starting in Judges 6. It was the perfect reminder I needed this morning that, just as God is patient and gracious with us through all of our faults, I likewise need to extend that same patience and grace towards others.

No matter where we are in our level of faith, God reminds us through Gideon that as we seek Him, His plans and purpose will continue to unfold in our lives!