Stand!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
-- Ephesians 6:10


From where does our strength come? The better question: From whom does our strength come? It is obviously a leading question. And the Sunday School answer is, "God." That, or he, is also the right answer. And at times, we need the reminder.

Paul urges believers to be strong and to stand. He quickly notes in both cases that our strength is in the Lord and that we can stand only through the equipping that God provides - his whole armor.

Our strength is proportional to our dependence. 

And we stand strongest when we lean most on Christ. 

I was reminded of this earlier in the evening. Suddenly feeling a bit overwhelmed and overtaken by worry, I prayed. It was an odd prayer. (And you would think me pretty unspiritual if I admitted the nature of the prayer.) I reminded myself and God - though he didn't need to be - that he alone has provided all along. He has always been faithful to me. And the anxieties that I was playing out for the future were indications that I was standing on my own, leaning on myself and trusting in my own strength.

At times the weight of our circumstances, relationships, hurts and fears seem they will crush us. Paul acknowledged this, but held to a greater truth. To the Corinthian believers he wrote:

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; 

persecuted, buy not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; (2 Corinthians 4:8-9). 

Christ is our strength. And he never fails. 

God, You are my strength, and I will stand in you...

For now...
D