Our Source of Strength for Today and Tomorrow
Isaiah 40:28-31 says,” Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainted not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increased strength.”
Isaiah was the prophet whom God used to comfort His people when the city of Jerusalem was besieged by the Babylonians (modern day Iraqis) in three different times (586 BC, 597 BC and 607 BC). The Israelites were forcibly incarcerated and had their identities changed. Isaiah 39 records the prophecy of Jerusalem falling to the Babylonians.
Annie Johnson Flint, a hymn writer of yester years was orphaned at age 6 years old knew a great deal about hardship in life, suffered from poor health and spent much of her adult life bedridden.
In her suffering, she sought strength from God.
She did not spend her time making excuses not to serve God or complain what she didn’t have.
Rather, she spent time to testify of God’s love and faithfulness.
In one of her hymns - “He Giveth More Grace”, she included these words:
When we have exhausted our store of endurance
When out strength has failed ere the day is half done
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving has only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure.
His power has no boundary known unto men.
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus.
He giveth, and giveth and giveth again!
We all need strength from God. Some need strength to start something. Examples are new relationships, new family, new ventures. Others need strength from God to continue. Others need strength from God in times of weakness, sickness and even in grief and separation or loss of a loved one.
The Christian life is not a sprint, but a marathon. We all need strength from God to deal with hardship, sorrow, any type of loss, to handle the unexpected and to face the unknown. We all need the strength of God to handle discouragement and depression. We need God’s strength to lead effectively and to handle life’s responsibilities.
The strength that we need to live as God’s children in this ever-changing wicked world is more than we can ever muster on our own. If we try to go in our own power and strength, we will surely be defeated and we will fail. It is only when we rely on God, depend on the Holy Spirit, and wait in God’s power and provision, that we are able to be victorious and have God’s strength consistently.
God wants us to be dependent on Him. When we are tired, discouraged, exhausted and thinking of quitting, He calls us to come to Him, in His strength. (Matthew 11:28-30) No matter how many times we come to Jesus; we will never exhaust His supply of strength. With the strength coming from God, we need to take advantage of the time and opportunities God placed before us.
Let us also be reminded also that in Isaiah 38: 18-20, King Hezekiah’s response to his restored health and renewed strength is to trust God only. In truth, none of us is promised the future, the only day that we are guaranteed to praise, to glorify God and to tell others about God is today. (James 4:14)
Invitation to receive Jesus Christ.
In closing, we receive blessings and the strength of God, not because we are deserving of them, but because of God’s grace. The time to serve God in His strength is now. We do not know how much time we have left to serve God. At some point our life will come to an end, it is up to us to ensure this life is not wasted by doing what we can, one day at a time.
To God be the glory!