Jeremiah 32:27, Romans 8:15

Howard Drummond

Looking recently on the very few DVD's on my shelf, the film Coach Carter took my eye.

Coach Carter is based on the true story of Richmond High School basketball team. In 1999 Coach Ken Carter made headlines for benching his MVP and undefeated team due to poor academic results.

Coach Carter had to overcome many obstacles both on and off the basketball court and in the process had to face players, parents and the community.

During the film one young man stands and says the following, before taking an exam to achieve the grade average, "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were all meant to shine, as children do. It's not just in some of us, it's in all of us. And as we let our light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others".

I don't know how reading the above makes you think about yourself, God, or our world? Three words come to my mind when I read these words. They have given me permission to view God as Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent.

Where we see ourselves as inadequate we begin to fear the worst. I believe the God we serve is all powerful beyond measure, the one who makes Himself Omnipotent.

'I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?' Jeremiah 32:27

It may have looked bleak for the Babylonians, but God assured Jeremiah that He was still in control. For Coach Carter the obstacles that he faced may have proved difficult, but when he looked beyond his own fear, he became powerful beyond measure. We can also become powerful beyond measure when we allow our/God's light to shine.

I have discovered that light consumes darkness however vast the darkness is. At times we get fearful of using our light to consume the darkness and overcome obstacles. We may not be sure how such obstacles will be overcome, but where God is Omnipotent, He is also Omniscient, having total and complete knowledge of the situation or circumstance. Knowing this also helps us to allow our light to shine.

In your yesterday, today or even your tomorrow don't allow fear to stop you.

'For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear; but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by Him we cry Abba Father'. Romans 8:15

We were all meant to shine as children of God. It's not just in some of us, it's in all of us. As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to the same.

As we all allow our light to shine in darkness, I believe this, in part, is what makes God Omnipresent. He is everywhere all at the same time illuminating our world, lives and the lives of those around us.