After being up all night with a sick kid, a young single mom faces a grueling day at work. What does she need most? That’s easy. She needs strength.
Inspirational quotes on social media feeds and energy bars have their place.
But what she really needs is an infusion of physical stamina, emotional power, and spiritual muscle so she can keep putting one foot in front of the other.
Most people can use a little extra help from time to time.
Some people, however, seem like they don’t need anything. To an outsider, King David of Israel probably came across that way. He was one of the most powerful men on earth. He had political clout, military might, and more wealth than he could ever spend.
He had at his disposal the world’s best personal security force, a fortress for a palace, a team of wise and godly prophets, and priests to advise him.
But David was wise enough to recognize that apart from God, all his “securities” were only deceptive insecurities. He well understood that our need for strength is always greater than our earthly advantages.
David surely would have laughed at the adage we commonly toss around: “God will never give you more than you can handle.” It sounds right—merciful, even.
It just isn’t biblical. David would argue that God often allows hardships into the lives of His people. This drives us to look to Him and depend on Him.
Are you out of gas today? Look to the LORD. And even if you’re not physically spent or feeling emotionally weary today, look to God.
Trust in His power to “make it through the day” or ask for His strength to fill you and animate you so that you might have the power to live and speak for Him (Acts 1:8).
Ask for strength to resist sin and make a difference in the lives of others. And thank God for His ability “to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20).
In what part of your life do you most need divine strength?
