STRENGTH

noun: energy, might; the ability to withstand force or stress 

“–not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is the strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy…”  Colossians 1:11 MSG

Does life seem to be getting harder?  More and more people I care about are struggling. Depression is weighing down too many friends, lonely people are becoming more isolated than ever, disease is ravaging healthy bodies, and hearts are breaking over addicted family members.

So many are either recovering from a crisis or worrying about the next one these days. We are all experiencing the vulnerability of being human–illness, financial stress, and conflict; and we are all fighting personal, invisible battles of doubt and fear and shame.

In most of these hard things, we become painfully aware of our weaknesses. In order to keep from being overcome, we find ourselves needing to muster up some strength.

Even when we are not in the middle of a crisis, we need this thing called strength.

A few of my favorite people have shared with me recently about how defeated and hopeless they feel in the careers they have chosen. Many of us work, serve, and provide care in professions and ministries that regularly drain our energy and steal our joy. For most of us, Monday comes too soon with a week full of stressful things ahead. Some of these are already on our calendars, and some will crash in to our schedules without any warning.

Often, we “grit our teeth” and try to just make it through.

Grim strength. Somber, stubborn, self-reliant, limited strength.

Is there a better way to get through these difficult situations, these long weeks, these stress-filled times?

Because of Jesus, yes, there is.

In place of this burdensome, exhausting kind of self-strength, God offers us his glory-strength.

“…It is the strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.”

Colossians 1:11-12

Really? There is joy ready to spill over?

When we ask him for strength in the middle of our longest, toughest days, he will answer. He will bring us surprising and beautiful gifts. Encouraging words. A knowing smile. A burst of energy. A creative idea. A new opportunity. A listening ear. A bit of good news. A breath of peace.

While we are in the trenches of our battles here on earth, we can reach up at any moment and receive this unlimited power and joy from our God who loves us so much.

Jesus who can do anything is with us and in us.

Jesus who called us is faithful.

Jesus who holds our hearts and our futures has good planned for us.

Dear Jesus, thank you for giving me all the strength and joy that I could possibly need. You are surrounding me, making me strong as I walk into my hardest stuff. You will come close, you will help me handle it, and you will ultimately bring good. Please help me to receive and rely on your glory-strength today.

TAKE YOUR TICKET 

Jesus gives us strength.

Let’s go into this day in his glory-strength, not in the grim strength of gritting our teeth. As we trust him to help us through the hard–and even the unendurable–we will find joy.