“No, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
–Romans 8:37 (ESV)
When I was a little girl, my dad was my superhero. He was the kind of
individual who held the attention of a crowded room with his storytelling and
boisterous laugh. He was big in stature with a deep, radio-worthy voice.
When we had company over, I would watch our guests, who, like me, were
captivated by him. At the dinner table, I would sit in awe, feeling a sense of
pride that this man was my dad. If I was the
daughter of a superhero, then somehow, I was a superhero too.
As years passed, my big blue eyes saw more of the true picture of my father’s
lifestyle. It began with separation. His job took him away from home for long
periods of time. When he was home, he was too tired to engage. His income did
not stretch far enough to cover the bills, and he was stressed. The booming
voice, too often, thundered at mom, my sisters or me.
As I grew, my hero withered, and along with him, my confidence in family,
authority figures and, ultimately my self-worth. I was not the daughter of a
superhero. Therefore, neither was I to be super.
Your story might be a lot like mine. Many
of us have experienced parallel events with our parents and feel a similar
sadness. Self-esteem has been hard to come by for those of us who believed in
these myths of our making.
But there is another story at play, a true chronicle, in which there is a true superhero!
Romans 8:37 uses a term that is found only once in the entire Bible. According
to Strong’s Concordance, this Greek word is hupernikaó. It’s prefix
“huper” is translated “hyper” or “exceedingly,” while the root, “nikaó” means
“conquer.” Many versions of the Bible, like the English Standard Version,
translate hupernikaó as the phrase “more than conquerors.” But I think it’s no
stretch to say this verse could be written: No, in all these things we are super-conquerors through
Him who loved us.
Does this excite you like it excites me?
This verse says it is we who are the
super-conquerors through Him who loved us! Not we alone, but through Him ... or
because of Him, who loved us first. God gave us a way, via Jesus Christ, to be
His partner in victory.
All I wanted, as a kid, was to be my Daddy’s sidekick. I wanted him to be
Superman so that I could be his Supergirl. Together we would fight against the
foes of tribulation and distress, or mortgages and medical bills, or hunger and
homelessness.
God wants to show us the Superhero He is, and He wants us to
be His partner!
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) goes on to say,
“For I am sure that neither death nor
life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to
separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Our Heavenly Father has been reassuring us that He’s not leaving, He’s not too
tired, and we’ve won the war! It’s no myth, dear sibling in Christ, we are
super ... because the Greatest Power made us to work alongside Him. And together, we are marvels moving mountains
in God’s Kingdom!
Sharon has been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and devotionals since 2007.
She has
had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private,
Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served
women in the homeless community.
Sharon has
traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the
rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended
on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often
abused young women.
Within
these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words
spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its
transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and
her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown
children.
Currently,
Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing
face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
~*~
Connect
with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
Author
Bio:
Sharon has
been writing and teaching biblically based curriculum, Bible studies, and
devotionals since 2007.
She has
had the unique position of writing curriculum and teaching for two private,
Christ-based, residential recovery programs. Both programs primarily served
women in the homeless community.
Sharon has
traveled multiple times to Kenya, serving on medical teams and teaching in the
rural Maasai communities. She’s been privileged to speak in Leadership camps intended
on encouraging and empowering the impoverished, underprivileged, and often
abused young women.
Within
these ministries, Sharon has witnessed the transformative power of loving words
spoken to the broken-hearted. Sharing God’s love and witnessing its
transformative power has become her passion.
Sharon and
her husband, divide their time between Oregon and Hawaii. They have two grown
children.
Currently,
Sharon is encouraging others via her inspirational blog, but prefers sharing
face to face. Additionally, she is working towards a degree in Ministry.
~*~
Connect
with Sharon:
Website: Sharonmusgrove.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Sharon-Musgrove-Untethered-102208978041060
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonmusgrove_untethered/
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