Commit FROM THE EDITOR
First
H
ave you ever desired to do something in your life—something you wanted to do? Something you knew would make a profound difference in every aspect of your life? And have you ever attempted to pursue that desire or goal, only to find yourself empty-handed weeks, months, or even years later? Have you ever experienced setting a goal or fixing a desire in your mind and then falling short of achieving it? How has that made you feel? What has it done to your confidence or your level of faith in God? How has it made your family, friends, or significant others think and talk about you? Well, I have. I've experienced the frustration of wanting something, only to never realize or achieve it. The non-accomplishment of these goals and desires in my life has continued to nag at me and my conscience. Why haven't I been able to achieve them? Is there something wrong with me? Do I not have what it takes? Is there something else I am missing? These and other deep, soul-probing questions are what I have been asking myself.
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Alberta Adventist News
JUNE 2022
BY ERIC OLLILA
If you are like most Christians, you have heard the promise, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Phil. 4:13, NKJV). I have found myself asking, "If this is true, then what gives?" Notice the language there: "If." There is a story in the Bible about a boy with an evil spirit (see Mark 9). His was a severe case. The evil spirit would throw this boy into convulsions. It would throw him to the ground; he would foam at the mouth, and his body would become rigid. It had gotten so bad that the father explained to Jesus that at times, the evil spirit would throw the child into the fire or water, trying to kill him. And then the father said something. He said to Jesus, "But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." "If you can do anything, please help us." The underlying sentiment behind this particular father's question was wavering between doubt and belief. The father believed to some degree.
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President Volodymyr Zolensky demonstrated the idea of "commit first" when he refused the offer from the United States to flee his country when Russia first started their attack on Ukraine. It would have been impossible for Zolensky to have everything figured out at that moment. But he committed first and took immediate and massive action." Photo by www.president.gov.ua
