Proverbs 24:10 If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength!
The fatigue caused by the pandemic has sure demonstrated the lack of strength within some people’s hearts. Many who thought themselves to be of strong character and would doubtlessly have thought themselves to be courageous in the face of adversity have found themselves unsure of their faith and quivering with fear in the corner of their minds. The tediousness of living under restrictions and everchanging rules is wearing down the resolve within people’s hearts. Throwing in the towel is becoming an option for these tired souls, as they give up on life. Prov. 24:10 If you faint in the day of distress, how small is your strength! If these events caused by a world pandemic are causing such distress, what will happen when persecution for our faith becomes a real-life and death danger as it is in some countries today?
A boxer looks for the weakness in his opponent and repeatedly keeps hitting the soft spot until an opening for a knock-out punch reveals itself. Suddenly the sound of a punch hitting home, and the thud of a boxer colliding with the floor, demonstrates the need for more training. In like fashion, Satan’s goal is to keep hitting Christians in their weak spot until they cave. 1Pet. 5:8 Be sober-minded, be alert. Your adversary the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion, looking for anyone he can devour. If we fall during the enemy’s attack then this is an indication that more training in God’s word of righteousness is needed.
We who are in Christ must remain in constant training as we develop our skills in the use of our armour while proclaiming the living word of the Lord. We cannot allow the fears of the day to become part of our conversation when we have the weapons of God’s arsenal at our disposal. 2Cor. 10:4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We are well able to fight the good fight of faith because Jesus lives within our hearts.
Just because someone might be small in stature does not mean they have to be small in heart. The Lord wants us to proclaim the strength that He has given us for the day of distress. God says to say “I am strong.” Joel 3:10b Let the weak say, I am strong. With Christ, in our hearts, we are strong in the might and power of God’s strength. By faith, we have to believe what God says concerning our righteous strength. While wearing the full armour of God, and with courage, we step forward believing in our hearts that we are more than conquerors through Christ. Rom. 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
We do not have to faint in the day of adversity. Our strength can be strong if we are walking with our Lord. God has a way of taking the average person and changing them into a voice of righteous excellence and an example of Godly endurance. Daniel was one of the captives Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had taken from Jerusalem to become a servant in Babylon. Over a period of time, Daniel rose up to be a leading governmental official in the country. Gideon was hiding and scrounging for food because Israel’s oppressors were stealing everything that was not nailed down. In a short time, Gideon delivered Israel and became a judge in his time allowing Israel to become their own nation under their own rule.
Many people come to God with frailties and weaknesses that seem insurmountable to overcome. If it were not for God, this might remain the case. However, the words, “But God,” comes into play and major world events are changed. Matt 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Yes, but with God, all things are possible. Even the weak becoming strong in the Lord is truly possible.
Rom. 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We have to get it into our hearts that God loves us and will move heaven and earth to help us fulfill what He created us to do. No saints. We do not have a small strength. We have a mighty God who strengthens us to be strong in Him. What a wonderful Lord we serve. Blessings.
How true Ian. In Christ all things are possible.
It is so good to be reminded that with God nothing is impossible and has provided such a wonderful salvation!