Psalm 68:34 (NKJV)

Ascribe strength to God;

His excellence is over Israel,

And his strength is in the clouds.

I remember several years ago watching people demonstrate their strength by tearing thick phone books in two, bending steel pipes and breaking handcuff chains.

Today, professional, college and high school teams employ strength coaches to help the athletes become stronger and develop greater endurance to play the games in which they compete. Strength is something that everyone wants and needs, but sometimes people are not willing to pay the price to obtain the strength they need.

At times, physical strength does not matter as much as the emotional strength to endure mental and spiritual battles that comes our way.

I am reminded in the Bible that God tells us that when our strength is weak, he is strong.

“Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: For when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10)

“For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.” (2 Corinthians 13:9)

None of us likes to face difficulties in life. We always want everything to just go right. But reality teaches us that it won’t.

We are all going to face sickness, financial issues, death, job issues, car problems, repair issues and weather problems. These attack our minds and spirits, and it doesn’t matter that you in the flesh have great strength to move heavy objects. The strength that you need at these times can only come from God.

Inward strength can only be built when we trust that God is able to help us overcome these obstacles. To trust God, we must study his word to know that he is able. His word shows us how he conquered obstacles against others in the past.

It reminds us that God does not change and what he did in the past he can do today and tomorrow.

We can’t stop the obstacles, but we can be prepared with the strength of God in our lives.

The Bible tells us to put on the whole armor of God — not only to cover the flesh but also the spirit because the strongest battles that we face are the inward ones.

Put your trust in God and he will not fail you or let the battle become bigger than He is. peacewithgod.net

http://wisdomofjesuswithwendy.org

The Rev. B. Reppond is pastor of the Christian Life Center in Opelousas.