Strength in Troubling Times
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· 4 viewsHelping one walk through tough situations trusting in God. This was created for my girslfriend & her mother to help through a hard time.
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What is Strength?
What is Strength?
The words “strong” and “weak” are often found in conjunction in Paul’s writings. The parallelism of the two terms is used to communicate two central principles:
First, human weakness allows the power of God to be most preeminently manifested. As Paul says, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” ().
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor. 12:9-10
The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), .
The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), .
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”
Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Second, the two words are used metaphorically to describe the degree of spiritual development in the life of the believer .
Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
When you think of the words strength & courage, who in the bible do you think of? (allow time for names)
When I was preparing this devotional for today, the person that kept coming to my mind was Mary, the mother of Jesus. I believe that Mary always knew that Christ would die on Calvary, but still, as a mother, you know it was hard watching her son suffer so. I know Elizabeth has suffered greatly for basically the last decade, & thus you & Ron suffered alongside her because you love her, as do I even though we have been together a month.
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing there, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
While this was obviously very difficult on Mary, Jesus ensured that she would be alright and be well taken care of by John. In the same way, God will take care of you through this upcoming deposition.
As you prepare for the upcoming blessing, the deposition; do not forget that God loves you and is powerfully in control.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom, and you are exalted as head over all. Riches and honor come from you, and you are the ruler of everything. Power and might are in your hand, and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. Now therefore, our God, we give you thanks and praise your glorious name.
I know you are nervous. I am too, but I know God will see this through and we can begin a new chapter of life, together.
God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
Closing Scripture: one I love to remind Elizabeth of :)
Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Close in prayer:
Pray that the deposition questions aren’t that difficult.
Pray that time passes by between that and the finalization.
Praise God for delivering us a quicker than anticipated deposition.
William A. Simmons, “Strong and Weak,” in Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, electronic ed., Baker reference library (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1996), 748.