My Only Strength

"David found strength in the LORD his God." 1 Samuel 30:6

There are times in life when even the dearest of earthly friends cannot offer us the encouragment and support for which our heart longs. They can try and help, but regardless of their efforts, they will fail. It's at those times we need to know how to find strength in the Lord. The kind of strength we need comes only from God.

How do we strengthen ourselves in times of trouble?
1. Commit ourselves to God before the trouble comes.
2. Focus on God - not the problem. Believe it or not, the pain is part of the strengthening process. When we start to realize this, we will see pain in a different way.
3. Cry out to the Lord.
4. Remember His past goodness. Has God ever been good before? :o)
5. Remember His promises.
6. Consider this time in the light of eternity.
7. Seek God's glory.

When God calls us to strengthen ourselves in Him, it is a place we must go with God alone. It's a time when He places us in His intensive care. Most often overwhelming grief has been the cause and we come from a place of brokenness. We wrestle to know God's will in the matter and as the Lord strengthens us, we come to place of acceptance. A time of strengthening matures us and changes us.

I have to admit that over the past seven weeks I have longed for friends to provide for my lack. I don't like the 'entering in' required for this strengthening because it must be done alone. I selfishly want the sympathy and love I can feel and hear easily. However, God's idea of victory comes via a different plan. As Beth Moore says, "What comes out of a battle isn't nearly as important as who comes out of a battle." God desires to work through me and in me. God wants me to know Him deeper.

Lord, I do want to trust You. I want the faith that is credited to me as righteousness. I want to trust unwaveringly in Your promises. I want to be strengthened in my faith and give You glory. You have the power to do what You promise. Father, here's the catch, and it frightens me to write this, but so often I've seen that it's only through severe battles that this depth of knowing You emerges. How I wish living here could be always happy...always pleasant...always easy. Yet, then, I would probably continue to lean on my own strength and I wouldn't see my need for You. Lord, right now, this very second, I need You. I need You to heal, forgive, change, search, restore, revive, fill, demolish, and hold. Lord, open my eyes to all the ways I have been trying to strengthen myself outside of You, and give me courage to release them and turn back to You alone.

And Joy found strength in the LORD her God.