When Suck it Up Buttercup Isn’t the Answer
I consumed large amounts of water in the days leading up to our recent skip trip to Crested Butte, Colorado, but alas, I still found myself with an extreme case of altitude sickness. Please don’t hear that as I got a tad queasy. This wasn’t that. This was an evil experience. As I said to my beloved once I could speak again, “Are you saying the mountain wasn’t spinning wildly as you made your way down?”
Throughout that first day on the slopes I did my best to “Suck it up, Buttercup!” but it just wasn’t happening, y’all. Yours truly had to spend some time in a hyperbaric chamber before my insides would consider any level of cooperation. For those who may be unfamiliar with such things, a hyperbaric chamber floods your system with a crazy amount of oxygen, and it was a good thing! My physical buttercup needed intervention from an outside source, and you know what? My spiritual buttercup needs outside help, too. As does yours, fellow believer.
In 2nd Timothy 2:1, Paul tells his younger friend Timothy to be strong! That word strong in the original Greek language is endunamao. (I say it as en-du-née-mou, with mou rhyming with cow.) No doubt I slay the pronunciation, but I’m fully dialed into the word’s meaning. It pictures a dynamite type of explosive ignitable power that is deposited into a container. (I’m picturing divine oxygen flooding our human boxes!)
Now, here’s the most important thing I have to say about strength. Paul doesn’t tell Timothy to be strong in a “suck it up, buttercup” way. Paul tells Timothy to be strong in the GRACE of Christ Jesus, the unmerited endless inexhaustible supply from God to us mere containers. What’s that? You say you’re not a worthy container? None of us are. Jesus pours into us out, equipping and transforming our dusty containers by His unmerited grace— not our merit! So be strong today, y’all, but don’t try to bring that strength up from your own sweet toes. Let’s go forth asking for God’s strength and trusting that where we are weak, He is strong!
Hugs, Shellie
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Shellie
Oh, my fellow sufferer, an oxygen tank in the cabin? Great idea!! 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the analogy! Blessings, friend!
Diane Collins
Oh, Shellie, I feel your pain. Worst sickness there is!! I experienced it at Lake Tahoe so I was prepared on trip to Crestte Butte. We had an oxygen tank in cabin LOL!!! I love the way those who are not affected just think “Suck it up Buttercup!” Love you and I love the analogy!!!So true!!!