Whom do you think of as a strong woman or man? I think of Queen Esther from the Bible, Mother Theresa, my mom and the list continues. When we think of a strong individual, we admire their resilience in their life trials. We admire their faith in God.
Let’s unpack what it means to be strong.
Strength – According to Oxford dictionary, strength is the capacity of an object or substance able to withstand great force or pressure.
I have been reading Lord of The Rings and Frodo is a very good example of someone who is strong. He embarks on this excruciating journey and at every corner he meets animosity! Here are a few lessons we can take from him.
1. Being strong does not mean perfection. We will make mistakes.
2. Being strong means when we fall down, we get back up again.
3. Being strong means having a support system that encourages and challenges you. We cannot fight life’s battles alone!
4. Life’s adventures come with sacrifice – physical resources, dreams, friends and family
Stop for a moment and think of a past or current challenge. Isn’t scary and hard? Hang on and be encouraged!
Frodo – “I wish the ring had never come to me. I wish none of this had happened”. Gandalf – ” So do all who live to see these times, but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us.”
We all have felt burdens that were bigger then us – it’s called life’s challenges
This is where ones true faith in God is seen and/or tested. The words that we have been reading in the Bible are now being questioned and challenged. We are left asking hard questions, which are not all answered. Previously our spiritual muscles have been growing and now we are using them and they are being stretched.
Being strong is not having an easy life. Being strong is facing the battle head on and recognizing that I can’t do this alone. Being strong is asking for help, from God and others. Being strong is making mistakes and taking responsibility for them. Being strong is making healthy boundaries and not walls. Being strong is forgiving when you have been wronged.
And let’s be real, this isn’t manageable, at least not by ourselves. We don’t have the physical, emotional, spiritual strength. It is God who fights for and with us!
In Joshua 1: Joshua is called to lead the Israelites after Moses death. Joshua was now supposed to take on a job to lead thousands or probably millions of people.
Jesus mentions fear multiple times in Joshua 1 on different references and says that He will take care of Joshua. This gives me a hint, that Joshua must have been shaking in his boots. Why would Jesus repeat on multiple references that Joshua should be courageous and not fear? Although, I don’t understand how Joshua shouldn’t be afraid, but Jesus was reminding him that He’s got his back!
We all experience fear, it’s normal and fear doesn’t eliminate courage. It actually is a part of courage.
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” Nelson Mandela
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”
1 Joshua: 9
So this means when we are weak, with God’s strength, we can be strong. I had a friend once tell me that I was strong. It was a during a season that I felt so weak – emotionally and physically. I didn’t feel strong, in fact I felt quite the opposite, but yet somehow I kept moving. Even if it was a dance – one step forward and 2 steps back.
In the end somehow God uses our pain and trials for good. This doesn’t diminish our pain, but it does give us purpose.
I understand, you may feel nothing from strong right now, but I encourage you to get up and slowly but surely move forward! And if you do that my dear reader, you are strong!
“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” 1 Corinthians 16:3
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
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