Be Strong!

September 18, 2025

Be Strong!

It is easy to feel weak! 

Feelings of inadequacy, low self-worth, and helplessness drain away our strength.  Feelings of being insufficient, incompetent, or in some way defective draw down our strength.  Attacks from others, doubts rising up in us, and uncertainty about tomorrow slowly exhaust our strength.

Sometimes life just leaves us feeling weak. 

When circumstances continue to be a struggle, we can feel overwhelmed and weak.  When situations continue to be stressful, we can feel depleted and weak.  When relationships continue to be strained, we can feel hopeless and weak.

The church in first century Corinth was consumed with division, conflict, and arguing.  It is not difficult to believe that people were putting down those who disagreed with them, that people were making accusations about those who argued with them, and that people were attacking the integrity of people who were promoting and perpetuating a different point of view. 

I imagine people were gradually seeing their strength in the Lord being replaced with feelings of weakness.  Towards the end of his letter to the church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul writes words of encouragement.  In I Corinthians 16:13-14 Paul writes; “Keep alert; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.”

Paul tells the Christ-followers in Corinth to “be strong.”  The only reason Paul would tell them to be strong was if he knew they were feeling worn out, put down, and disillusioned; i.e., they were beginning to feel more and more weak!

Those who follow the Lord are not exempt from feeling weak.  Hundreds of years before the Christ-followers in Corinth were feeling weak, a man by the name of Joshua also felt weak. 

Joshua trusted the Lord God enough to follow the Lord’s guidance through the challenges of the wilderness for forty years.  Joshua loved the Lord, trusted the Lord, and obeyed the Lord when many other believers became distracted and distant from the Lord.

When Moses dies, the Lord God calls Joshua to lead the Israelite people into the Promised Land.  However, Joshua resists the Lord’s call and refuses to lead the Israelite people.  He is still grieving the death of Moses, he is still questioning his qualifications to be a leader of God’s people, and he is not interested in trying to lead such a stubborn and easily distracted people.

Joshua feels both afraid and weak.  Before he can say “Yes!” to the Lord’s call to lead the people into the Promised Land, the Lord God must encourage him.  In Joshua 1:6 the Lord says; “Be strong and courageous, for you shall lead this people to possess the land that I swore to their ancestors to give them.”

The Lord tells Joshua to be strong so he can lead the people into God’s promise.  But, Joshua still argues with the Lord; he says “No!” to God’s call!  The Lord God responds again.  In Joshua 1:9 the Lord says; “I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

The Lord commands Joshua to be strong.  The Lord also gives Joshua a promise that will grow God’s strength in him.  The promise is simple; “…the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Sometimes we need to address the things and people around us who we are allowing to make us feel weak.  A pastor may help us address these things and people.  A counselor may help us address these things and people.  A small group may help us address these things and people.  The Holy Spirit may help us address these things and people so we begin to feel strong again.

In the end, however, our strength grows greater as our assurance that the Lord God is with us in every situation, in every relationship, and in every moment grows deeper.  The Lord is our strength.  Here is the promise that the Lord is our strength. 

In Psalm 28:7 we hear; “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts; so I am helped, and my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”

In Psalm 118:14 we hear; “The Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.”

In Jeremiah 16:19 we hear; “O Lord, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble…” 

In Isaiah 12:2 we hear; “Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid, for the Lord is my strength and my might; he has become my salvation.”

The Lord is my strength!

When this assurance of faith in the presence of the Lord grows strength in us, our heart will fill with delight in God’s goodness and grace.

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug