How To Be Strong

Strength has always been viewed as a virtue and something to achieve. It makes a person stand out from the crowd. The fact that we spend much of our lives trying to be strong, implies the reality of weakness. Weakness is often viewed as an attribute we should avoid and hide. So much so, we would rather overcompensate and lie to ourselves - and others - rather than acknowledge what is real.

For the Christian, weakness is not something to be avoided…it’s something to embrace. Why? Because true strength is not something that we somehow have to muster up on our own in order to get us through. It is something that we receive from God himself.

The LORD is the strength of his people; he is the saving refuge of his anointed. - Psalm 28:8

The strength that we try to muster up has a shelf life and will eventually wear out. But, the strength that is available from God never wears out - it is always accessible and within reach. If this seems like a paradox, it is… Life is really all about living in the tension of paradox. When God is our strength, He is the first place we run to for help, hope and safety. We often run to things like: our finances, our ingenuity, our network, etc. These things aren’t necessarily bad, but at some points, they will be either inaccessible or unhelpful. But, God’s strength is limitless and always accessible. That seems like a better deal to me.