She Hath Done What She Could

There was a time recently when I was called on to serve in a way that was outside of my comfort zone.  Not only that, it was brought about because someone else decided that they did not want to fulfill their obligation.  When that happens, it usually falls on the shoulders of the missionary.  After all, they can do anything…

I was struggling with a swirl of emotions.  I was comparing myself to others who could have done a much better job.  I was also crying out to the Lord to help me in my weakness.  It was at that moment that the Holy Spirit whispered, “She hath done what she could…”  Those words stopped me in my tracks. 

I took some time later to look up those words in Mark 14:8.  Mary was being criticized for what she was doing to serve her Lord, but He came to her defense with, “She hath done what she could…”  

As I thought on this, my mind wandered to the widow and her two mites.  According to some notes in my study Bible, those two mites were equal to 1/4th of a penny!!  I would be prone to wonder, “Why bother??  What good can my measly 1/4th of a penny accomplish?”  But Jesus said that she gave more than all the others, because she gave all that she had.

Then the Lord gently rebuked me as He brought 2 Corinthians 10:12 to mind.  “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.”  When I sat their stewing and comparing myself, I was not being wise.  

Ecclesiastes 9:10 tells us to do whatever we are called on to do with all our might.  And so I stopped comparing myself and confessed my weakness to the Lord.  I proceeded to do what needed to be done.  I didn’t do it perfectly, but I did what I could.  I did it with all my might.  I gave it all I had.  And I heard those sweet words whispered once again, “She hath done what she could…”

*The photo is of a beautiful park in Japan.