A Bible verse about strength:
“Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always.” Psalm 105:4.
I think about strength a lot. Like the average American male, the evaluation of my strength determines a part of my psyche.
In our culture, and perhaps through history, strength is appreciated while weakness is despised.
The irony in that is that strength is also completely subjective.
The traditional value of strength has always been of physical merit. That’s no different in my line of work. The “perfect” firefighter is always pictured as a proficient, physical masterpiece.
We are expected to be fit, no doubt, but an overt emphasis is placed on physical strength. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but that shouldn’t devalue those who are strong in character.
I would rather choose my crew based on the strength of their character over physical strength. While physicality certainly has its place, character lasts.
In regards to this verse, that juxtaposition kind of comes to the forefront.
Our physical strength, no matter how strong we are, will fade. We age and weaken. Perhaps we suffer an injury and our muscles deteriorate. Even worse, maybe we’re hit with a debilitating degenerative disease.
The point is, physical strength doesn’t last forever. And, if that’s all we have when it’s gone we’ll have nothing.
On the contrary, strength of character can ride through the low tides in life. Strength of character can overcome physical deficiencies.
One of the greatest aspects of strength of character is knowing our own limitations. That’s called humility.
Humility isn’t only appealing to those we’re around; it’s also pleasing to God. Humility is knowing when we cannot do something and understanding when we need Almighty assistance.
Humility is not idolizing ourselves and our own merits, it’s about praising God through our weakness.
"Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10
I think of this verse also regarding mental health.
It doesn’t matter how strong I am if depression saps me of the motivation to work out.
Mental diseases can rob me of that physicality in the blink of an eye.
So, an overall wellness plan is required, and that involves:
- physical health
- mental and emotional health
- spiritual health
Without strength in all three categories, I submit that one cannot truly be “strong.” If any of them are lacking, then weakness is inevitable. In all honesty, I think we can agree on that.
Strength in body, strength in mind, and strength in heart. That’s what true strength is. Where we are weak, the other categories need to make up the difference.
Yet, in all of our strength, we are still weak in comparison to God.
Even the strongest athlete succumbs to age, disease, or self-inflicted wounds.
That’s why this verse reminds us:
"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."
Notice your posture. Pay keen attention to it.
In times of exuberance and joy, are you not naturally inclined to look upwards? Conversely, in times of turmoil and doubt, isn’t it a natural tendency to be downcast?
I know that’s the case for me. But here’s a secret:
By paying attention to our posture, we can trick ourselves into recovery.
We can remove ourselves from the current situation and think objectively rather than emotionally.
If an act as simple as altering the direction in which we are looking can change our whole outlook, we’d be foolish not to do it, right?
Look to the Lord – look up!
Even though God is omnipresent (everywhere), looking upward has often been symbolized as looking toward Heaven and to God.
Look towards His face for the strength lacking in us.
“For when I am weak, then I am strong”
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