"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." Ephesians 6:10
Most of the time we are trying to be strong in our own might, which in reality is very weak, and discouragement sets in. We can't see past life's disappointments and to the God who won't ever disappoint us, because He isn't capable of failure like we are. Since we view things from a human viewpoint, we can only see our own failures and others, and assume that God must be like that too. So we take on everything and try to be strong in our own power, but this only leads to disappointment.
"The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." Nahum 1:7
We can't be our own stronghold's in the day of trouble, but when we know the God who is mighty, and He who knows those who trust in Him, we have a strong tower. When we have His word hidden in our hearts, when Jesus is alive in us, there is no strength to boast of in our own power, and we can lean on the only true strength we have, God. Man will always try to prove His strength, by doing stunts, exercising our muscles until they bulge, and trying to carry everyone's burdens, but any of our physical, mental or emotional strength is all weakness compared to God.
God doesn't have to perform any stunts to prove His might to us. He has already shown us who He is, through His word and by sending His son to take on man's weaknesses, sin, onto Himself, to be our righteousness and our strength. He loved His children enough to be the strong one for them, and not leave them to their faulty, weak selves. He sent us a strength to lean on, if we can only remember to lean Him and trust Him to be strong for us.
"The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength."
1 Samuel 2:4
God doesn't care about our strength or our strong weapons, our "powerful bows"---He just meets us in our weaknesses and gives us strength, our weapons or power are not of importance to Him. He arms us, equips us, and bestows upon us His grace, mercy and strength in our weaknesses. Our human weakness will never be fixed apart from Christ, and He is the one to lean on for real, lasting strength that will not pass or fade away. In our sorrow, our weakest or darkest moments, we cannot carry ourselves. We just have to know deep in our soul the One who will always carry us with His deep, long suffering love for us.
The Bible is a book of strength and hope, stating again and again God's character, Jesus' sacrifice for us, and the hope we have of eternity, where there will be no sorrow, only resting in God's presence. God's strength is there for us, if we will take hold of Him and trust Him. His strength isn't faulty or weak, and He isn't capable of failing. The world will always give us messages about "finding your inner strength", "how to be strong and win!" and these are false and failing messages. Pursuing a fruitless search for a false inner strength in ourselves is a dead end road. As Christians, we know the true message of strength---leaning on God and His might.
"For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you." Deuteronomy 20:4
“No
one enjoys feeling weak, whether it is emotionally, spiritually or
physically. There is something within the human spirit that wants to
resist the thought of weakness. Many times this is nothing more than our
human pride at work. Just as weakness carries a great potential for
strength, pride carries an equally great potential for defeat.” ~
Charles Stanley, Pastor
"Do not strive in your own strength;
cast yourself at the feet of the Lord Jesus, and wait upon Him in the
sure confidence that He is with you, and works in you. Strive in prayer;
let faith fill your heart-so will you be strong in the Lord, and in the
power of His might.” ~ Andrew Murray, Pastor
I have been impressed on this point by the Lord lately - that I am relying on my own strength! So this is timely - thank-you! I just breathed a sigh of relief:)
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