Needing Strength?

“…spirit of counsel and might…” Isaiah 11:2

I don’t know about you but I am needing a good dose of might – strength to perform anything. Today, I would settle for the mundane tasks of every day. You see, and old, uninvited, unwelcome friend came to visit last weekend and stole the strength of my back. In my weakness I am reminded how much I rely on the strength of the Lord each day. I hear the Lord telling Paul in his letter to the Corinthians –

“My grace is sufficient for thee:

for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” 

It’s Paul’s answer that I struggle with –

“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities,

that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

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 12:9-10

Glad, glory, pleasure, and infirmities. Which word is not like the others.

Then I look at Jesus in his weakness and find hope.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith:

who for the joy that was set before him

endured the cross, despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:2

Jesus came to earth fully man. He came in the Spirit of the Lord God. He endured the weaknesses of the flesh. He experienced weariness, hunger, thirst, pain, rejection, and what it is to depend on the strength of the Spirit. He could glory in these things as He showed us the victory of living in the strength of the Lord, as He listened to and obeyed all his Father gave him, even to death. For the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him to strengthen him. He kept looking at the joy set before him – the glory that is his.

“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him,

and given him a name which is above every name:

That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth:

And that every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father …

And the seventh angel sounded:

and there were great voices in heaven, saying,

THE KINGDOMS OF THIS WORLD

ARE BECOME THE KINGDOMS OF OUR LORD, AND OF HIS CHRIST,

AND HE SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER.”

Philippians 2:9-11; Revelation 11:15

Jesus experienced it all, showing us God’s grace is sufficient to provide for our every weakness, physical, spiritual, and emotional. By the Spirit of Christ in us we have his wisdom, understanding, counsel, and might. Without the might to walk in the other characteristics of the Spirit we would not know victory over our weaknesses. With the strength of the Lord, we can do all things.

“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

Philippians 4:13.

Including setting my eyes on the joy of the Lord as my strength when I experience weakness. No, I don’t enjoy pain – that would be sadistic. But, yes, when I remember where my strength comes from, I can still have joy. Whatever weakness we may suffer, the grace of God brings his children strength through the Spirit of Christ. He will bring us to victory. We don’t go it alone. He goes with us in our weakness, understands our weakness, and strengthens us through our weakness. When broken and in need of strength – lean on him. He does not disappoint.

“O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee?” 

Psalm 89:8a

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