Finding Strength in Weakness: Relying on God's Power

We all desire to be strong. We want to be able to handle whatever life throws at us and overcome any challenges that come our way. But have you ever stopped to consider what kind of strength God wants for us? Is it the same kind of strength that we desire? In this article, we will explore the concept of strength from a biblical perspective and discover God's desire for our strength.

God wants to be our strength

When we think about being strong, we often think about being self-reliant and independent. We want to be able to handle everything on our own and prove our strength to the world. But God has a different perspective on strength. He wants to be our strength. In other words, God wants us to rely on Him for our strength and not on ourselves.

In the Bible, we see this concept of relying on God for strength throughout the Old and New Testaments. In Psalm 28:7, it says, "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me." This verse reminds us that God is the source of our strength and protection. We can trust in Him to provide us with the strength we need to face any situation.

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul writes about this idea of relying on God's strength. In Philippians 4:13, he says, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." Paul understood that his strength came from God, and he relied on Him to empower him to do all things. This is a powerful reminder that we don't have to rely on our own strength but can tap into the unlimited strength of God.

But why does God want to be our strength? Why does He desire for us to rely on Him instead of ourselves? The answer lies in the fact that God wants our strength to reflect well on Him. He wants us to give Him the glory for the strength we have, rather than taking credit for it ourselves. When we rely on God for our strength, it points others to Him and shows His power and faithfulness.

Trapped in weakness

One of the ways that God teaches us to rely on Him for strength is by allowing us to experience weakness. In the book of Exodus, we see an example of this with the people of Israel. After being miraculously released from slavery in Egypt, they found themselves trapped between the Red Sea and Pharaoh's approaching army.

In Exodus 14:10-12, it says, "As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the LORD. They said to Moses, 'Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn't we say to you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians'? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!'"

The Israelites were trapped in a weak and vulnerable position. They felt scared and angry, questioning why God had brought them to this point. But what they didn't realize was that God had intentionally led them to this situation to teach them to rely on Him for their strength.

Moses, their leader, responded to their panic by saying, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still" (Exodus 14:13-14).

And sure enough, God fought for them and delivered them from the Egyptians. He parted the Red Sea, allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry land, and then closed it, drowning the pursuing Egyptian army. After this miraculous deliverance, Moses and the people of Israel erupted in a song of praise to God (Exodus 15:1-18).

Weakened to learn where strength really is

So why did God allow the Israelites to be trapped in weakness before delivering them? Why didn't He just give them supernatural strength to defeat the Egyptians? The answer lies in the fact that God wanted them to understand that He was their strength and their salvation. He wanted them to recognize that their strength came from Him alone.

In the same way, God allows us to experience weakness and challenges in our lives to teach us the same lesson. He wants us to realize that our strength is not found in our own abilities or achievements, but in Him. He wants us to rely on Him and trust in His power to overcome any obstacles we may face.

Sometimes, it may feel like God has made a mistake or is being unfair when we find ourselves in weak and vulnerable positions. But the truth is that God has a purpose for allowing us to experience weakness. He wants us to learn to rely on Him completely and to understand that He is our only source of true strength.

When we are weak, we are forced to turn to God for help. We are reminded of our dependence on Him and our need for His strength. It is in these moments of weakness that we often experience God's power and faithfulness in the most profound ways. As the apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, "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. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

We may not realize what it means for God to be our strength until we're weak enough that He's our only option. But when we reach that point of complete dependence on Him, we begin to experience His power and strength in ways we never thought possible. Our weakness becomes an opportunity for God to display His strength and for us to give Him the glory.

Conclusion

In conclusion, God wants to be our strength. He desires for us to rely on Him for our strength and not on ourselves. He wants our strength to reflect well on Him and to point others to His power and faithfulness. Sometimes, God allows us to experience weakness and challenges in order to teach us to rely on Him completely. In those moments of weakness, we are reminded of our dependence on God and our need for His strength. And when we turn to Him in our weakness, we experience His power and faithfulness in incredible ways. So let us embrace our weaknesses and trust in God's strength, knowing that when we are weak, He is strong.