His Strength + My Weakness = Courage

By Mary Skoglie

God is sooo good!  His strength was recently made perfect in my weakness.  I have mental illness and one of the manifestations of that is in severe phobias that have essentially crippled me for the last few years.  I have a huge fear travel.  There are so many things I want to do but, I have to get into a car!  

This past summer members of our church were traveling for the day up to Union Creek, a beautiful area about 50 miles from here.  Sounds like nothing, right?  Not to me! 50 miles might as well be 50,000!   I was completely and thoroughly unwilling to go with them to Union Creek, beautiful though it is.  No way on God's green earth, so to speak!  But that one lovely morning, God, Who is INDEED the Lord, broke through and said to me "YOU'RE GOING!”  "I must've heard wrong.  I can't go." "YOU'RE GOING" He said again.  I knew somehow it was true.  Fear or not, I was indeed going!  I was terrified at the prospect even though I knew this was from the Lord.  I went into the church kitchen and hyperventilated into the only thing I could find!  Let me put it this way: I don't reccommend small foam cups for that use! 

I went.  I saw some of the most beautiful things I've ever seen.  The mountains and trails.  The river--gorgeous beyond words!  I even had to cross a log over a river at one point.  I was saying "No--cannot do this!"  But my dear friend Kathy let me know I did not have a choice, and literally drug me across!  I am amazed I did not accidentally break all of her fingers while crossing the log!  But we made it!  Victory tastes so sweet, especially when it's so hard.

It was a blessed day all around, inspite of my fears, which did not really leave me.  But I knew God had broken through.  He had made me willing when I was not even willing to be made willing!  In essence, I obeyed His gentle and quiet voice instead of my own screaming "voices.” 

I call it a miracle, and the beginning of some healing for me.  It has increased my desire to overcome my fears.  I still haven't licked my problems, but God and I are busy working together on that now!  I can't praise Him enough!  His strength was INDEED made perfect in my weakness!  I had the courage I needed.

Mary Skoglie, Medford, Oregon