MacGyver's of Faith

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But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:26-27 (NIV)

Today, I started watching the new version of MacGyver, one of my favorite TV shows as a kid. MacGyver could get out of any bind with a bit of physics, chemistry, and ingenuity. I used to wish that I could create things out of gum, paperclips, string, and, of course, a trusty Swiss Army Knife. I may not have MacGyver's skills, but I’ve got a utility faith tool called the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit transforms Christians into "MacGyvers" of faith. Doubt me? Check out Acts 16 for an action-packed prison break. Paul and Silas blew up the gates with hymns and prayer. In Acts 4:13, the rulers and elders took note that Peter and John were ordinary men and yet healed a man. The apostles spoke with authority in the face of threats. Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would equip, teach, and remind us of the character of God. He enables us to do the impossible in Jesus’ name.

My Swiss Army Knife is the Bible—useful for teaching, correcting, rebuking, and training in righteousness (2 Tim 3:16). My gum and paperclips are the experiences I have of God's faithfulness, and prayer is my lifeline in all situations. But, unlike MacGyver, I never work alone. The Holy Spirit guides me to the tools that I need and helps me fight against spiritual realms rather than flesh and blood.

With the Holy Spirit’s counsel, I look at a problem from different angles and think out of the box. Right now, He is teaching me how He views mental health, and how I should respond. It makes me hopeful in a space that can feel extremely hopeless. The focus of my faith becomes how God can use my circumstances for others, rather than self-preservation. God is proving Himself faithful in all things and that He does not leave me to figure out my plan alone.

What is your current impossible circumstance? Take inventory. What scriptures speak to the Holy Spirit’s response to those circumstances? The Holy Spirit will counsel you. He will either give you a way out, strengthen you if required to stay in the circumstances, or give you a miraculous way through. Pray that God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven. The enemy is relentless, but we have a God who knows that we are but dust. Here are a few scriptures that have become my go-to reminders to stand firm in truth:

Genesis 50:20 (ESV): "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Daniel 3:16-18 (ESV): “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

2 Corinthians 4: Speaks of not losing heart in affliction.

Romans 8: Paul gets so excited about all of the things that can’t stop God that he has a lot of run-on sentences. It fills my soul and makes me laugh every time I read.

So no, we may not have to unstrap ourselves from a bomb about to detonate, but even in difficult circumstances, God has the resources to do the impossible, paper clips and all.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Take inventory. What current resources has God equipped you with in the areas of scripture, prayer, friends/support, and experience?

2. Are there areas where you are tempted to lose heart or where you feel your faith weakening?

3. Commit to 40 days of prayer and ask for guidance from the Holy Spirit. Take steps of faith, even when tentative.