the power of God is in you.

Every week I sign off these posts with the line “The power of God is in you, even on a Thursday.” Recently, I keep hearing (at church, on podcasts, etc.) this distinction made.

God is not with you, He’s in you.
You are not doing this life with Him, He’s moving through you.

I know this is true about God. I type those words on a regular basis, but it also feels hard to grasp. I think it’s because every other relationship – with husbands, business partners, coworkers, friends – looks like people doing things with, or alongside, each other. It’s two people bringing things to the table, and something beautiful happens.

That’s what I often imagine life with God is like. We both bring things to the table (and He for sure brings way more than me) and something beautiful happens. But the problem with viewing our relationship like that is how it leaves room for me to feel like I’m not pulling my weight. Like I need to do more.

Or worse – it leaves room for me to believe He potentially jumped ship on something we were doing together. I’ve looked at God more than once and said things like, “I thought we were doing this thing. Are we not? Are You done with that?”

But it’s not like that with God because He isn’t like anyone else. He isn’t moving with me or alongside me. He’s in me, moving through me. It’s not a hand-in-hand situation; He’s in my hand. Which means He never leaves, and I never need to “do more” to pull my weight.

Everything beautiful He and I create is actually just Him creating something beautiful through me. It’s not a 50/50 thing. I’m at zero, He’s at 100. I am empty, and He moves through me.

That’s why Jesus is the perfect example to look to. He is fully God, but He was also fully man. The Holy Spirit came upon Him just like He comes upon us. Jesus was fully surrendered – fully empty – and the power of God moved through Him. So it is with us too.

Our part is not to stand up taller or pull our own weight. It’s to let go of what we think we need to hold onto, to be empty, and to let Him move through us. And something beautiful happens.

I think we want faith to look like something beautiful every day (or at least I do), but sometimes (or oftentimes) it looks more like showing up empty. And it feels terrible. I always think I could (or should) be doing more. But the emptier I am, the more my hands are open, the more God can do through me.

Maybe you feel empty today, and that’s okay. It’s perfect actually. Open your hands and see what God does through you when you get out of your own way.

The power of God is in you, even on a Thursday.