God Will Give You Strength

In the Arabian Nights, Sinbad the Sailor warns his shipmates about a great magnetic rock in the Indian Ocean that would draw all the nails and bolts out of passing ships. The ships would then collapse and sink. In our own world, there is the draw of temptations and the pull of storms which threaten to sink us but the Lord is the one who will sustain us. He is the one who holds us together. The Apostle Paul said, “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has given me strength…” (1 Timothy 1:12).

The promise of the gospel is this: Jesus not only saves us for eternity but he strengthens us for today. We can face every adversity, confront every difficulty, and defeat every adversary through Him who strengthens us.  There is no problem you will ever have to face, no mountain you will ever have to climb, and no task you will ever have to do, that God will not give you the strength to accomplish it.

God’s promise is this: “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand” (Isaiah 41:10). A.B. Simpson said about this verse: God has three ways of helping us. First, He says, “I will strengthen you.” In other words, He is saying, “I will make you stronger yourself.” Second, He adds, “I will help you.” By that, we understand Him to say, “I will add my strength to your strength, but you shall lead and I will help you.” Third, He says, “I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” which is to say: “I will lift you up bodily and carry you altogether. It will be neither your strength nor My help, but My complete upholding.”

When we come to the end of our strength, we come to the beginning of His. In Him, the weak are at their strongest, and the most helpless are the most helped. As scripture says, “To them who have no might, He gives strength” (Isaiah 40:29). God’s word for us stands true, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). This may seem paradoxical, but it is most practical. In our weakness, God gives strength!

So rest assured, dear child of God, He will give you the strength you need to sail life’s journey successfully, to withstand contrary winds and rough seas of adversity, and to one day arrive home to Him safely. You have God’s Word on it!

Devotedly yours,
Pastor Ron