As the afternoon sun beat down on top of our heads, you could hear the younger children laughing and delightfully screaming as they slid down the slides and wildly kicked their feet in the air on the swings. But not the older kids, no we were linked in two human chains, intensely staring across the field at the other. Teams had been picked and a coin had been flipped to determine our team would begin. We had just huddled together to pick a runner.
We began to swing our arms back and forth chanting, “Red rover, red rover, send Jennifer over.” As the other team took a second to pick the area of our chain that was the weakest, we squeezed our neighbors hand and braced for impact.
As Jennifer began to run full speed towards our line, I could see she was coming for me. I closed my eyes and prepared for the inevitable burn on my arm as her clothes rubbed against my skin. I clung to my neighbors hand, a boy I liked might I add, but I couldn’t hold on. I had failed our team. Again. I was always the weakest link.
From a young age, I knew I wasn’t as good as others at most things. As I grew older, this became more apparent. Don’t get me wrong, I was good at things I just was never the best. Not even close. What this has done for me, has forced me to work harder and practice more.
Maybe right now you are feeling like the weakest link in the Red Rover chain. The one who is constantly charged at and broken. The one who despite how hard they hold on, can’t keep it together. Stay with me, I have some good news.
The problem with being the weak link in Red Rover is often the other team knows you are an easy win. They will call you over and you will never be able to break the chain. Despite your desire to bring victory to your team, you fail.
As an adult I am still hearing the chant from Red Rover.
I want to be called out of the line to run and break chains for His Kingdom.
The problem is, I can’t shake the memory of never being able to break the human chain. I am reminded I am weak, unqualified, and never good enough. The result of this is I give up, sometimes before I even start.
Have you ever considered those who were called out of the line to run?
- Moses- Stutters but lead the Israelinets out of slavery, into freedom. (Read more on this is Please Send Someone Else)
- Joshua- Was born into slavery but led the Israelites into the Promise Land.
- Rahab- Was a prostitute who hid the three spies Joshua sent ahead to see the enemies of the Promise Land. She both hid them and helped them out of the city.
- King David- Began as a shepherd, committed adultery while King and still was considered a man after God’s heart. (Read more on this in Shame Satan’s Lie and Taking Ownership).
- Mary- Was young, unmarried, and a “no one special” and yet was chosen to be the mother of Jesus.
God didn’t call those who were qualified, He called those who weren’t.
When you are called to run in Red Rover, you run. There is little hesitation.
18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.”
20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:18-22
Gulp.
First of all there will be no place for me to sleep? Can we just go ahead and map it all out. Yeah, that would be great. I don’t need to know ALL the details, but I need the details.
Second, I can’t finish out my responsibilities? Wait, I need to come RIGHT now? First let me… then I will…
When we are called by God, we feel the need to think through every detail. Arguing and compromising instead of just running toward the goal.
It is time we take ownership of our weakness and use it to run toward God’s calling. You may feel like the weakest link, but God wants to use it to break chains. In your own power you can’t, but with Him all things are possible.
