Source of Strength

 

Strength.  It is something we strive to have in life.  Athletes and non-athletes alike, push themselves to the point of their physical capacity and beyond to build it, both in muscle and endurance.  Doctors prescribe patients medications and vitamins in order to maximize the strength of anatomical systems and health.  Mothers call upon every ability in their bodies to gather the strength necessary to bring life in the world.  Parents dig deep and find a lot more in order to brave the sometimes tumultuous waters of raising healthy children and maintaining their other relationships and responsibilities.  We are taught that we can become anything we want to become, we can overcome any hardship so long as we have the strength.  Strength of character, strength of body and strength of body to fight through to the end.  We are taught this, and we believe it.

 The problem with strength as we know it, is that when you have it.  Others see it.  People around you begin to associate you with it, and you develop a reputation for being the strong one.  Doesnt sound so bad right?  It isnt so bad.  Most of the time.  But when people associate you with strength, they expect you to have it all the time.  Even more so, they DEPEND upon you to have it.  Especially if they don’t.  So what happens when you don’t have it?  What happens if you get tired?  What happens if you have been strong so long that you begin to see the possibility of having a moment of weakness, as a non-option? 

What happens is disappointment and failure.  Those that depend upon you see you as not measuring up to what they expect of you. They see you as not caring enough, not loving enough, not being enough.  You fail.  If you fail long enough, you become the reason.  The reason that those who you have tried to hold up for so long, struggle. The reason they are unhappy.  The reason they want to die.  At least that is what they want you to think.  This is where true strength becomes important. 

 Sometimes true strength  isn’t measured in the number of  pounds that you can lift, or miles you can run or pain you can withstand.  Sometimes true strength is simply the ability to keep your head on straight in the midst of trying times.  Sometimes it is no more or less than the ability to pick yourself up, bloodied and bruised after being pelted with the rocks of life and believe you can (enter objective here).  To be able to stand tall and see yourself as valuable, and beautiful (handsome), worthy and as a success because you continue.  Sometimes strength is realizing that you can be somebody else’s "reason" for failure or you can be "reason" enough to take another leap forward, for yourself.  For your children and for your future. This is what the embodiment of strength is. 

 Even more importantly, When the Bible speaks of strength -  time and time again it speaks of it as something that comes from God. Some reminders are, Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me".  Isaish 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak".  "Corinthians 12:9"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christs power may rest on me. That is why, for Christs sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong." Truth is that real strength comes from seeking and remembering the reason for all of this.  God.  We are all called according to HIS purpose, for HIS glory, not our own. I really needed this reminder today.  This is renewal.