Essayons!

May 8

While in Iraq, Major General Michael Walsh mentioned to a French-speaking ambassador that the motto of the United States Army Corps of Engineers is "Essayons."

The ambassador said, "Oh, that is French for, 'Give us a shot at it; we'll try.'"

General Walsh responded, "No, Sir; that's French. The U.S. Army term means, "Let US try...when others have failed, let US try...when others don't know what to do, let US try! When the mission must be accomplished, ESSAYONS!"

Major General Walsh has expressed the heart of the ‘can-do’ spirit that is essential to the accomplishment of any task. He has stated a mindset that will produce favorable results in every area of endeavor, from military battles to academic accomplishment to business success.

It is the mindset that got the Washington Monument completed, the Panama Canal built, WW II won. We are not likely to fail if we truly believe we shall succeed—even if others have failed.

This is the kind of focused thinking that the Lord encourages for His people. Paul tells us very specifically, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,” Philippians 4:13. In Ephesians 3:20, he tells us that the Christ within us, “is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think, according to His power at work within us.”

In the Great Commission(Mark 16:15) Jesus says, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” The Lord isn’t speaking here to a group of wealthy, well-educated, cosmopolitan men. No, He is speaking to a rag-tag group of fishermen and tax collectors—to people who were quite ordinary by the standard of their day and who would be esteemed as totally without credentials for their task if they were among us today.

Did the disciples go back from His marching orders? Indeed not! They expressed the spirit of ‘essayons’! They were the epitome of ‘Let US try!’ They didn’t say, “But Lord, we have no resources to accomplish Your bidding!” They didn’t say, “But Lord, we can’t speak the languages of the people to whom You are sending us!” They didn’t say, “But Lord, who will support our families if we begin the task You’ve set before us?”

No, they did not…and neither must we.

What has the Savior set before you to accomplish? Where has He told you to go? Who has He commanded you to reach with the good news of His gospel of salvation? Wherever, whoever, your only response must be, “Essayons!” Let ME try!