I Lost My Strength

“God did not bring you this far to leave you” - Philippians 1:6

I lost my strength. I lost my strength through the hustle and bustle of running back-and-forth with work and parenting and being a daughter, a sister and a friend. I lost my strength in raising kids and making sure they were all healthy and well fed and lived in a safe environment with good friends, great education and are being provided for. I lost my strength in being a good co worker, employee, a team builder, and a leader and guide. I lost my strength trying to do the right thing, to be the right person, to be helpful, to be there. I lost my strength, hoping and praying to be delivered from my trials, from my difficulties, from fighting to protect myself, and to protect others through everything. I feel like I have no strength left.

At that moment, I cried to God. How do I keep moving forward? How do I get through this? How do I get my strength back? A scripture came to mind. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NLT). I may have lost my strength but God has given me so many things in return. We have love. It is who we are. Made of love, to be loved and give love. Love is powerful, not weak. “Love never fails…” (1 Corinthians 13:8). 

We have self discipline. This includes the discipline to keep moving forward, to stay within the boundaries to be the person we need to be. The boundaries that don’t overdo it, push past exhaustion, ignore warning signs or red flags of any sort. The discipline to rest when we need to before we continue on. Discipline that protects and guides and helps. “Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭10‬:‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

It feels like you lost your strength but it’s right in there with you.

Connect with your maker and feel the power come back. It is the very first thing He said He gave us. Power. Power to overcome. Power to get through. Power to survive. Power from Him to us. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬)

In losing my strength I realized something. When I slow down he pushes me forward. My strength is in Him so when my human flesh gets weak, He becomes strong. So if you’re feeling tired or feeling weak, if you’re feeling broken, know that all is not lost because he is fighting for you. You may not see it or feel it. It may feel like you’re all alone. That no one understands you. That you’re being judged or neglected or forgotten. But my dear you are far from that. You are loved. You are cared for. Lay that burden on Him. Pour it all out and take a deep breath in. Breathe out the stress. You’ve just given it to God. Your weakness is the best place you could ever be because now He can be strong. 

It’s when we don’t know what to do that we finally allow God to flourish. It’s when we give up that we suddenly see God take action. It’s not because he’s waiting for us to get tired. Sometimes we don’t give him the chance to. Sometimes it's our last resort. But in the case where your life is naturally taking the breath out of you, it’s good to know that whether you want to keep moving or not, he already is. 

He already knows how the story ends. He already knows who wins and how. He already has the best strategy in place. Lay it all down because the hands that made this world are holding on to it. They are taking care of it. They have it all under control. Hopefully, this renews your strength, faith, and hope. You can rest easy knowing that you’re going to make it through. You will be okay.