Strength

"My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word." (Psalm 119:28)

Many of us have felt that at times we need more strength to complete the task that is at hand. We have prayed for that strength only to find that the answer we get is the same as the answer that Paul received when he prayed that God would remove from him the thorn in his body. The Lord reminded Paul that it wasn't his strength that He wanted but his weakness. When we submit our inadequacies to God then He can work through us. As long as we strive to serve in our own strength God can only watch and wait until we realize our need of Him.

How does one receive the strength of God. Isaiah reminds us that they that wait upon Him will renew their strength. Strength comes from waiting upon God. The Psalmist tells us that we receive strength through the Word. As we wait upon God and mediate upon His Word, we receive the strength that we need. As we wait upon God we become aware of our inadequacy and His sufficiency.

Nehemiah reminds us that the joy of the Lord is the strength of His people. Joy is one of the evidences of the fruit of the spirit. When we joy in the Lord and do not look upon our circumstances then we will receive strength.

Often when we are weary it is hard for us to be joyful and to spend time in the Word of God. If, however, we will turn to the Word of God and rejoice in the Lord, not necessarily what He has done for us, we will receive strength. Remember, the joy of the Lord is the strength of His people.