Not Strong Enough

I feel like I have to find it within myself to pull it together, press on, get it done. To admit that I don't have the strength or am incapable of bearing the struggles in life is a sign of weakness. That's the lie I've bought, and it's become a part of me so much so that after years of freedom and fortitude in Christ I still have to remind myself that God didn't create us to be lone creatures.

We're designed for relationship. We desire some form of company; it's human nature because God created us that way. Consequently He desires relationship with us. He desires us to call on Him in our time of need and praise Him in times of success. We will experience many seasons of life and God wants to be our companion through all of them.

So why don't I instinctively run to God when I'm struggling; when I've exhausted myself worrying and searching for solutions and I still don't have the answers? “God won't give me more than I can handle,” right? That's what most of us have heard as is largely accepted.

FALSE. This expression desperately needs clarification. The verse where this well-known adage comes from is “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT

When we take the focus off of our own abilities while reading this verse and place our focus on God and HIS abilities, then the verse takes on a whole new meaning. Rather than “I’m not given more than I can stand” it becomes “I’m not alone when I am tempted. God is with me; HE is providing me with the strength to rebuke temptation and run from it into His glory.”

I have seen more light shed on this passage recently and I am glad that finally it is becoming more widely accepted that God does allow us to experience more than we can handle because we were never meant to handle life on our own. We were meant to do life with God and rely on His strength to sustain us.

Recently, during my devotional time with God, I received a verse for a friend that I believe applies to this topic (in true “God-fashion:” perfect timing for this word that He had already placed on my heart to share with you). Jeremiah 17:7-8 “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they never stop producing fruit.”

I love the part that says they “are not bothered by heat or worried by long months of drought.”

If you feel tempted, anxious, worried, weary first know that you are not alone. God is walking with you, whether you realize it and have called on His strength to sustain you, or whether you still feeling like you’re swimming upstream and trying to rely on your own strength to keep your head above water. Secondly remind yourself of Jeremiah 17:7-8. Times of heat and drought will come for all of us. However, we have hope and confidence in God. HE is our strength; HE will sustain us so that we will continue to grow and glean the good even in dry seasons of life. Just put your trust in God; speak truth over your situation and life. Refuse to listen to Satan’s lies...

“You’re not strong enough to make it through this one.” Nope, my trust is in God. His word says He is more than enough and He will sustain me. “You’re too tired. You can’t keep doing this anymore.” No, my trust is in God. His word says that through Him I will run and not grow weary. “But what if….” No! My trust is in God. He knows all, He sees all. He promises to be my refuge, to uphold me, to vindicate me, and to be my strength and help in times of trouble. I don’t have to fear. His word says God made good plans to give me hope and a future.

The simple truth is we weren’t created to be strong enough to handle all of life’s experiences on our own. We were created to be in relationship with God and rely on His strength and wisdom to sustain us.

You are not strong enough, but God is. Do life with God. Live in His ever-present strength, hope, love, and confidence.