When I was in the 6th grade, I was given a difficult school assignment. It was a mountain of work, and I had only one night to complete it. I came home from school feeling defeated. I remember going to my dad in tears telling him there was no way I would get it all done. He listened patiently as I explained all I had to do. Then he looked at me and asked me a peculiar question. He said, “Rachel, what’s your favorite Bible verse?”

That caught me off guard. I wasn’t sure what that had to do with anything, but I said, “Philippians 4:13.”

He said, “Okay. What does it say?”

I mumbled, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

He said, “What did you say? I couldn’t hear you very well.”

I whispered, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

He said, “What? Say it louder.”

I raised my voice, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

He said, “Say it like you believe it.”

I SHOUTED, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

He said, “Good. I don’t think you and the Lord will have any trouble getting that assignment done tonight.”

My dad was right. With the Lord’s help, I got that homework assignment done in record time. I learned a powerful lesson that day.

God’s Word works.

We are experiencing such craziness in our world right now. The coronavirus is all consuming, ever before us. The world is in absolute chaos.  I know this is serious. I believe we need to be wise and discerning. We should do our part to take necessary precautions and follow our leaders. I don’t know about you, but it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, weak, and helpless.

Psalm 119: 28 says, “My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.” 

Do you need strength? Not just physical strength, but deep down soul abiding strength? If so, then turn off the news for a while and open God’s Word. The truths inside that supernatural book will give you the strength you need to face whatever life throws your way. Often we feel depleted because we go everywhere else looking for strength and nourishment except God’s Word. We don’t just survive on God’s words, we thrive. His words give us strength.

 

“Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,”
‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭11:8‬ ‭

Here in Deuteronomy 11 Moses is giving a pep talk to the Israelites before they go into the promised land. He tells them to make sure they obey God’s commands so they will have strength for the battles ahead. The Israelites were going to have to fight many battles before the promised land would become their home. God knew they would need strength for the days ahead. So what was God’s workout plan? He told them they would get strong from obeying His commands!

We will need strength when we face battles and hardships in life. If we want to be part of God’s “cross-fit” program and lift the heavy weights, we need to do what God says. We need to obey Him.

The fact is, we are helpless and weak. This virus has made that crystal clear. It’s interesting how we humans think we have such control over things. We think we have the world by the tail, but we are too big for our britches. And now we have a world wide pandemic, and even the smartest minds don’t know what to do. This situation is a good reminder that God is God and we are not. He is in control and we are not. So what do we do when we don’t know what to do?

Psalm 121: 11 says, “I will lift my eyes to the hills, from where comes my help. My help comes from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

We look up. We lift our eyes to the hills. We look above that mountain in front of us–above that virus. We look up to the Maker of heaven and earth. Our help comes from the Lord. Our strength comes from Him! 

So today, if you are feeling weak, overwhelmed, and defeated, pick up your weights (God’s Word) and do a little workout with the Lord. Let the powerful truths in His beautiful Word strengthen you today.

Yes, you CAN do all things through Christ who gives you strength.

Wait. What did you say? I couldn’t hear you very well.

Say it louder.

Say it like you believe it.

God’s Word works.