“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Strength is defined as the quality of being strong: capacity for exertion or endurance. In times of trouble, we find ourselves praying for strength to endure the painful circumstances we often face. It is a fact that the human spirit fails unless the Holy Spirit prevails; our strength comes from the Lord.

We live in a sinful, fallen world…and will face trials and tribulations in this life-remember God’s faithful servant Job? he wrote these inspired words from the Lord by experience– “Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble.” Job 14:1; and David, a man after God’s own heart, wrote these words of encouragement in Psalm 34:19: “Many  are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.”  

My friends, when we are hurting and weak-it appears that we’re all alone in the midst of our pain…but that is only a ploy of the enemy to make us feel isolated and without hope. In the book of Genesis, we find the account of Hagar, Abraham’s bondwoman, and mother of his son Ishmael- he was forced by Sarah, his wife, to cast her and the lad out into the wilderness… we can imagine that she felt all hope was gone; she and Ishmael would die in the wilderness. “And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted her voice, and wept.”  Genesis 21:16. But God was there all along…He heard her and the child’s cries, and you know the story-He delivered!

If He did for Hagar…won’t He do it for you and me- definitely so! God is faithful to all of His beloved children, and He lovingly comforts our hearts and, without fail, will deliver us through the trials and tribulations of this life. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” 2 Corinthians 1:3-4.

My friends, when the load gets outright unbearable, and it certainly does at times…let us run to God’s throne of grace, asking Him for the strength that we need to make it just one day at a time; No matter how dark the shadows may appear, or sharp the pain may be, His amazing grace is enough, and it is right on time! “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Often, I can hear in my heart the soothing words of this comforting hymn:

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;

Every hour I need Thee;

Oh, bless me now, my Savior,

I come to Thee.

God is the joy and strength of our lives…His grace will comfort, guide, and keep us now and forever… if you call, He will answer: “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28.

God’s blessings of peace and grace be with us all!