If you’re like me, you tend to think that you are fairly strong, at minimum I like to think that I’m strong enough. In regards to strength, I’ve moved grand pianos, lifted massive dressers and picked up dryers on my back. In regards to endurance, I’ve survived months of working three jobs while being enrolled in college courses. In regards to confusion, I’ve endured surgeries and procedures, sickness and pain. In regards to leadership, I’ve lead my wife and son through crises and emotional trauma with a steady hand and a calm voice. If that wasn’t enough, I’ve actually survived a day without coffee. No Joke. And once I even survived a week with middle school boys who didn’t shower. I guess what I’m trying to say is…I’m basically Super-Man. We’ll, maybe not. Let me be really honest with you…
We’re Not As Strong As We Think
It would be an understatement to say that we’ve lost a few hours of sleep over the last few weeks. I’m pretty sure Vegas,the city that never sleeps has gotten more sleep than we have. Nothing makes you face the reality of your own weakness like losing hours of sleep. If you think yourself to be strong, pull an overnighter and let me know how you feel in the morning. Our lack of sleep has been, well, exhausting. I’ve turned into a subhuman emotional creature that feels more like a blob than super human. How could something as simple as missing sleep bring down superman?!? Perhaps the answer is that Superman doesn’t really exist. He is, after all, a made up comic book character built on fantasy. Maybe we’re not as strong as we think…and maybe we don’t have to be. And maybe, just maybe…that realization makes us stronger than ever.
We’re Stronger
When faced with your own weaknesses we tend to do one of two things. We either manipulate ourselves into believing that we aren’t as frail and weak as we think, or seek a different source of strength. One results in a continuing spiral of uncertainty and failure as we mask our own weakness and dress-up our own failures to look better than they are. Maybe if we could just put on a mask on, we could keep pretending that we’re Super Man. But, as followers of Christ, we’re commanded to take a different road. Our strength is not found in the lists of things we can do or things we have done. Our strength is found not in our muscle, but in our Maker. Our strength is found in Christ, and when we begin to live in His strength, we quickly realize that we are stronger than we ever thought possible, because HE is stronger. The Bible tells us in Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him.” It also reminds us that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint (Isaiah 40:31). Proverbs 18:10 reminds us that the name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe. Paul, when faced with his own weakness and infirmities wrote this: “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).
So you see, it’s not that we’re strong, it’s that Christ is strong. Our strength is found in Him. Our endurance is found in Him. When we’re faced with the realities of our own shortcomings, our own failures and our weaknesses, we are afforded an opportunity to take those to Jesus, give them to Him and rest in His grace. When something as simple as the lack of sleep causes us to realize how weak we are, we begin to find rest in Him. For when we are weak, then we are strong. Stronger than we ever thought possible.