As Christians, we have to learn how to lean on God for strength. Our life can be filled with failure and discouragement, but throughout the Bible, we can see God’s strength in the lives of His people.
God’s strength is what carries us. If we depend on our strength, we would be miserable.
In Exodus 15:1-2, after the Israelites had left Egypt and the Egyptians tried to recapture them,
God protected the Israelites. Moses and the Israelites sing praises to God!
“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea. The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him— my father’s God, and I will exalt him!” (NLT)
Or when Isaiah delivers a message from God to Israel,
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV
In the lives of the children of Israel, God continually showed His strength to them. The Israelites, like us, did not always trust in God’s strength.
Proverbs gives us wisdom on how to embrace the strength God offers to us.
“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.” Proverbs 18:10 NLT
When we need strength, running to God is the best way to find His strength for those hard times in life.
The patterns of God’s strength in the Bible can help a Christian know and somewhat understand God better.
With all of his trials and hardships, we know from Paul that his endurance and contentment in them came from Christ.
In his letter to the Philippians, he told them this, “….. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:11-13 NIV
And when Paul was given a thorn in the flesh, he said this, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 NIV
And in Paul’s final letter to Timothy, he writes,
“The first time I was brought before the judge, no one came with me. Everyone abandoned me. May it not be counted against them. 17 But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength so that I might preach the Good News in its entirety for all the Gentiles to hear. And he rescued me from certain death. Yes, and the Lord will deliver me from every evil attack and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.” 2 Timothy 416-18 NLT
Our strength comes from the Lord. Will you go to Him and asking for it?
David expresses it best in Psalms 18:1-2, “I love you, Lord; you are my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.” (NLT)
Let this be our prayer too!
