Daily Devotionals

No Time for Worry and Weakness 

Posted in Courage/Perseverance

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  Isaiah 40:29-31

Eastminster was lucky to have Donald Stratton as one of its first members, and I was lucky to have him as a friend and neighbor for more than 20 years. Mr. Stratton had no time for worry or weakness.  He said both were an offense to God.  I can still hear him saying, “Tammy, you can’t be a woman of faith and a woman filled with worry.  It makes no sense.”  

 

Mr. Stratton was a pillar of strength for me.  One day I had to do something that filled me with anxiety.  He put both hands on my shoulders and put his face close to mine. “You are strong,” he said.  “You’ll be fine.”  Clearly,  I hadn’t mastered the lesson about worry because my quick reply was, “What if I’m not as strong as you think I am?” I’ll never forget his answer.  “It doesn’t matter how strong I think you are.  It doesn’t matter how strong you think you are.   I know how strong our God is, and he will be with you.  Just ask him to be there, and he’ll be there.”

 

Wow.  What wise words.  It doesn’t matter how strong we feel.  The only thing that matters is how strong our God is.  The only thing that matters is remembering to ask for his help.  Just ask for his help.  

 

We all have times when we don’t feel strong enough to handle whatever life throws our way.  Illness, death, addiction, financial woes  — all these earthly things leave us feeling weary and weak, but as my wise neighbor reminded me, it doesn’t matter how strong we feel.  The only thing that matters is the strength of our God.  We can choose to rely on our own strength or we can choose to tap into the power of our God.  

Prayer:  Dear Lord, we often feel weak and weary and worn down.  Sometimes, we don’t feel strong enough to handle the problems we are facing.  You tell us to look to you for strength.  you promise to renew us.  Our job is to ask.  All we have to do is ask and allow, and you will lift us up and hold us in the palm of your hand.  In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

 

Submitted by: Tammy Moshier