Strength is defined as “the capacity of an object or substance to withstand great force or pressure.” It is very popular today, especially in American culture, to talk about strength or define how someone can become stronger. Author Evangeline Love once said, “Anyone can give up, it’s the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.” It’s been mentioned numerous times and will continue to be mentioned that the life of a Christian is not easy; with what we have to face, we have to be strong. We can’t do it on our own. However, with the pressures we face, our strength has to come from somewhere. So where do we get it?
Where we should not get our strength from is the world around us. Jesus says in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.” The flesh — in other words, the world — cannot give us the type of strength we need. First, because this world is going to burn away: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the world that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Second, because as a citizen of the Lord’s kingdom, I am not to be a friend of the world. I am supposed to be the light in the world that stands against wrong. James 4:4 says, “Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” If we are going to get through life, it cannot be by making friends with the world or getting strength from the physical and material things. Strength must come from something else.
Ultimately, God is who we should get our strength from. The first off, we know that we can always rely on Him, as it says in Hebrews 13:5: “For He, Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 10:13 talks about the temptations we have to face and notes that God “will also provide the way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.” Not only is God never going to forsake you, but He will always give you what you need and has already “given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:3). That’s what the purpose of the scriptures is according to 2 Timothy 3:16-17: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Therefore, make sure that as you continue your walk through life that you “contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3) as it is the only way to escape judgment. Do not worry or fret when you feel weak because we are all going to face times in our life when we get pushed down. When we do feel weak, we have to be sure that we get strength from the right places. Things of the world may help and lift you up, but in terms of what you truly need, what will truly fill you with strength, God is the only source. The only way He will strengthen us though is if we will humble ourselves and pray to Him for help.
Oren Caskey
