What is strength?
Lifting 100kg at the gym. Smiling when it’s really, really tough. Always being there for a friend who’s struggling. These are all different ways we define strength and evaluate how strong we are physically, emotionally and in our character. I have often found myself having to work harder to be strong in these three areas over the lockdowns of this past year, and it can be exhausting! The result of isolation from others can be that these strengths become lost and we find ourselves weak emotionally and physically. Even in our character we have all noticed changes over the last while – maybe the introvert has come out more in all of us and we secretly like to stay at home and watch a bit more Netflix!
The Bible tackles physical strength, for example in the story of Samson, and it tackles emotional strength and strength of character in the Psalms and Proverbs. These strengths are all valuable to us but through each of them the Bible delivers a picture of a greater strength of utmost importance: spiritual strength.
We see this spiritual strength waning in the Psalmist as he cries, “My strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak” (Psalm 31:10). Often in our busy lives today we forget about the crucial importance of being aware of our spiritual strength. We need to ask the tough questions: how strong is my faith right now? Am I actually struggling to see God’s power at work in my life? Have I asked Him to increase spiritual strength in me?
This is a strength that doesn’t come from who we are, but from who God is: His majesty, His authority and power over all creation. This spiritual strength is the most important of all strengths, because it doesn’t matter how much weight we lift, or how strong we are emotionally, or how good our character is; without His strength, we would find ourselves failing in our walk as Christians because we would rely upon our own human weakness to see ourselves through tough times.
I have often been guilty of thinking I’m more capable than I really am! It’s a reality check when I pick up the heavier weights at the gym and can’t lift them! This is a sign that I need to exercise more to get to the next level of strength. Sometimes I am overcome by my emotions; sometimes I realize my character is not where it should be. This is usually a wake-up call to remind myself that I am still weak, and I need to come back to God and find in Him my source of strength. In fact, David goes on to write in Psalm 31:14 that He will still put His trust in God despite feeling weak and helpless. Through surrendering to God’s strength alone, He finds space to praise God later in the psalm!
This spiritual strength comes from getting to know God more through His Word and by spending time talking with and listening to Him. We might feel too weak for what God asks of us as Christians, but the Bible has another character for us to relate to: Paul felt like this as well! When a weakness in his life was having an effect on his spiritual strength, he knew that God had said to Him:
“My grace is sufficient for you; for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
What a comfort and joy to know that in our weakness God perfects His strength! His undeserved kindness towards us is enough. Let’s remember that this week as we come to Him with our own individual weaknesses and struggles. God is ready and waiting to hear us cry out to Him for strength in time of our weakness (which is all the time!).
Let’s pray that this week:
- God would increase His strength in us to complete His work
- The young people we come into contact with would understand what real strength is
- We as Christians would be humble in recognizing God enables us to live in His strength
Written by Jamie McNutt, Intern for Swindon Youth for Christ