Where God had begun the work of grace, he will perfect it. He will help those who, in humble dependence on him, help themselves. As the day, so shall the strength be. In the strength of Divine grace their souls shall ascend above the world. They shall run the way of God’s commandments cheerfully. Let us watch against unbelief, pride, and self-confidence. If we go forth in our own strength, we shall faint, and utterly fall; but having our hearts and our hopes in heaven, we shall be carried above all difficulties, and be enabled to lay hold of the prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus (Matthew Henery’s Concise Commentary).
Have you ever found yourself in a place where you cannot take one more step? Your would cannot face one more strike. All you can’t do is look up and say one word, ”Help!” This is where God rolls up his sleeves, rubs his hands together and says, ” Look out, now it is my turn!”
All the strength you need is always just a prayer away!
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (NIV)
Strong – G1543 δυνατός dynatos, possible (based on power); powerful, able, the Mighty One
Thoughts…
The opponents’ criticisms forced Paul to say what he did in this chapter. They claimed true apostles had special revelations. Paul knew this boasting was senseless, but he related a time around a.d. 42 when he experienced the inside of heaven. Paul disliked sharing this account, for he knew that God’s strength is more easily seen in the apostle’s weakness. In fact, God allowed Satan to afflict Paul to keep him humble and to demonstrate the power of God in his life. If vulnerability revealed God’s power, Paul gladly accepted the weakness (HCBC Commentary).
We are not perfect. We are not goodie-two-shoes. We don’t have some magical power that makes life full of rainbows and unicorns. What we have is hope, love, faith, and grace. When we are faced with our weakness, we rely on a power source that does not end. When we give in and give up, God takes over and makes us powerful, able, and strong!
Feeling a little weak today. Stop fighting it. Let it go. Plug into the power of God. Find your true strength!
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
I have read this verse in the past when I was frightened or anxious or in a PTSD moment. In the King James version instead of self-discipline, it says sound mind. That is the verse I always remember.
When I read it today in the NIV and it said self-discipline it reminded me of James 1;12 James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” I can overcome these temptations and trials. I was given a spirit of self-discipline. I do not face these challenges on my own. I have nothing to be anxious about. This warrior has the tools, she just needs to use them!
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ~Ephesians 6:13
I call myself a suicide survivor. I have planned my death several times, but every time I was thwarted. I continue to deal with the thought from time to time. However, I am a survivor.
I am not a conqueror in this area of my life. I am still fighting. I am a warrior. I will always fight this fight. I will be a conqueror only when I am dead and not by my own hand.
Maybe my tombstone should say: She was a survivor who became a warrior to finish as a conqueror.
Being a warrior means fighting. For me fighting means talking, making my voice heard. I want to shout out loud so others know they are not alone. We are strong, tens of housands strong. If we make ourselves heard, we can fight together.
Fight the shame, judgement, and labels. We are not broken. No one has anything to be ashamed of. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of anymore.
For too long, the Christian religion has held to a similar position as the world. Mental illness means there is something wrong with you and you are not enough. Some religious people have taken it even farther telling us we just have no faith or are simply just being tested by God or even worse it is just Satan attacking.
I am not about to argue that it isn’t a test of your faith or an attack of Satan. It very well may be. I am going to argue one word I used above “just.” When we attach the word “just”, it makes it sound like we are weak and lowly. Perhaps, we are second class citizens or not good enough. We are not Christian enough.
I don’t about you, but to survive my mental episodes takes all my strength and courage. I am anything but weak.
They don’t see the darkness I see. They don’t feel the world’s impending doom. They don’t hear those voices telling me I am not loved. I am not good enough. The world would be a much better place without me. They don’t feel the absolute loneliness or the anger that rages inside me. They have no idea what my battles look like. They only see the scars and have the audacity to call me weak!
I know during these deep dark times, I call living in the pit, you feel weak, helpless and maybe even out of control. Let me tell you something you are not asked to be in control. You are not asked to fight your way out and conqueror this evil that is surrounding you. You are asked to stand. Just stand. Once choice to make -exist!
Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13
Stand, exist, be still, choose life, wait, be patient, survive, choose your word or phrase it doesn’t matter, just stand!
It is okay to just go into survival mode. You can just simply stand still and wait upon the Lord to renew your strength (Is 40:31). As a matter of fact, it is our command. Stand Firm!
I don’t need to find a way to crawl out of the pit. No need to strike back at those things crawling and slithering around me. Don’t bother answering those voices telling me their lies. Just stand!
Reminds me of watching movies or TV shows where the hero is tied to the chair. The bad guy is trying to threaten him or torture him to get the information. With each insult or punch, the hero just glares straight ahead. He knows what the enemy always fails to miss. Help is on the way. All our hero has to do is wait. Just sit there and endure the storm. Joy will come in the morning (Psalms 30:5).
Can you imagine for one second how Jesus did it? He too just stood there as they tortured him. He stood there on the cross bleeding, beaten, and feeling all alone. he cried out to God, “Where are you” but he waited. He didn’t fight back. He didn’t try to plan his escape. No, he waited on the Lord. He knew joy would come in the morning.
Growing up, my dad use to tell me it wasn’t the bully that was the strong one, it was the man that stood his ground. People around you tell you things like, “Just get over it.” “Just move on.” “Just quit being a drama queen” or my personal favorite, “Just shake if off.” When this happens, remember you are not the weak one. You are very strong at the moment. I mean, first of all, you haven’t punched them in the face. Please tell me I am not the only one that has thought about doing that?!?
These people have no idea how much strength it took to get out of that bed and take a shower. How much strength, energy and power it took to take your meds, eat some breakfast or even just open your eyes. They have no idea how much faith it took to take a breath and wait to see which emotion was going to bubble up and then rush over you like a tidal wave leaving you breathless once again.
No my friend, they have no idea just how strong you really are! You
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
I remember growing up in what you would call a small country church.One of my favorite songs we would sing was based on Isaiah 41:31
They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.
They shall mount up with wings as eagles.
They shall run and not grow weary.
They shall walk and not faint.
Teach me Lord,
Teach Lord to wait.
For those of you who may not know, I am excellent at waiting. NOT! NO WAY! NO HOW!
So, why in the world would I ever love to sing this hymn?
To be honest, it is because of my mom.This has always been one of her favorite verses and she always loved singing it. She always managed to remind me of it when I wasn’t being so patient.
A few years ago, when we were marathon training we would bring this verse up to each other when we were feeling a little low on energy. Even as I ran the marathon that year, I kept humming and singing that song over and over to keep me going.
My biggest problem with waiting is I feel powerless when I am in the middle of something. I have to do something to get started.I have to do something to finish up a project.In the middle, not so much to do. I just have to wait.
And when I wait, my mind starts to wonder and come up with all kinds of problems. I play the “what if” games or “I should have”. I think of all the ways I could have screwed up somewhere. Fear comes knocking down my door.
Recently, I “stumbled” (OK, God may have pushed a little) on a couple of other verses.
Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Psalm 37:23-24
The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
I realized even during those waiting times, God is holding my hand. I have nothing to fear when I am in a waiting pattern. God will give me strength to see any project to the end. Even if I have screwed up somewhere along the way, HE will make it come out alright.I have nothing to fear.
This is exactly why when I wait and put all my trust in the LORD, He will strengthen me and give me wings to fly and feet to run and I will not grow weary of waiting.
Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
I am so exhausted! It is tech week for our high school drama club. I will be so glad when this play is over this weekend.
In truth, I was going to skip writing my blog tonite because I was so exhausted. God had other plans.
Just as I put my head on my pillow, I got that familiar nudge.
“Tabetha, I am not finished with you yet.”
”Are you sure Lord? Cause, I feel like we put in a full day.”
“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
“Well, when you put it that way LORD, how can I refuse.”
Please tell me I am not the only one that has these little conversations with God! You know those moments when you feel you are done! You can’t take one more step and God comes back with, “Don’t worry. I got this!”
Let me tell you something…He Does! He has you. He will not leave you or forsake you. He will be your rock, your shield and your strength. Don’t be afraid when He calls you. Even when you are exhausted and can’t take one more step.x
1 Corinthians 12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
I remember my brother’s funeral like it was yesterday, instead of 23 years ago.I remember standing tall and stiff.I remember saying over and over again, “I am an army wife.I must be strong. I cannot cry. I have to support my mom and dad.”
It was a very difficult day for all of us.My brother had been taken away in a very brutal way and much too young. He left a wife and two beautiful daughters behind.
No one ever wants to get a phone call saying your loved one is dead. I can’t explain how hard it is to hear the person on the other end of the phone tell you they were murdered.
For me, it was like the wind was knocked out of me and at the same time the world just stopped spinning and fell away.I couldn’t feel my body at all.I remember having my newborn in my arms and my friend quickly grabbing her then turning to me and setting me down on the couch.
It was in that very moment, I knew without God, I wasn’t even going to be able to take my next breath. I had no strength for anything.
At the time, I lived 12 hours away, but I don’t even remember the drive home.
When I reached my parents house and saw my parents faces, I could only mutter a quick prayer of “God, get us through this!”
The voice I heard came back with, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I knew from that moment on, it was not going to be easy.I was going to be very hard.The days to come would even seem impossible to get through at times.However, I knew I was going to get through them.I knew God was going to go through them for me.
Yes, you read that last statement correctly.He was going to get through them for me and not just with me.He had already been down that road watching a group of people murder His son. He knew the pain I was going through.
In one of my weakest hours, he was my strength. It wasn’t easy at all, but there was hope for the sun to shine again.That is what got me through. Everything was going to be OK, just not right now. And that was OK too.
Jeremiah 17:7 But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
I. Can’t. Do. It! I stomped my feet and told the Lord!I am not capable.I don’t have the will power.I am too old.I can’t try again.I can’t go through this again.I won’t do it because I. Can’t. Do. It!
What was God’s reply? I know you can’t! But I can!
I have no confidence in me and my abilities. I don’t have the strength to do many things in my life.That is OK.I don’t have to have confidence in me. I have to have confidence in God.I must learn to rely on his strength.
Need some more proof? Here are a few more verses in the bible to convince you.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Isaiah 40:29
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Psalm 119:28
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Ephesians 6:10
Buy 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 40:31
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But you, LORD, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me. Psalm 22:19
So, no I can’t do it! But God can! i just have to have confidence in him and rely on his strength to get me through.
Psalms 29:11 The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.
I went to a new doctor today. After many years of seeing the same doctor, I had gotten quite comfortable with myself. My doctor was a good friend of mine. Unfortunately, he had to move his practice far enough away that I was no longer able to see him.
I have known about this move for six months. I have been on this new doctor’s list for about 4 months or so, but I had not gone in to see him. I hate meeting new doctors.
Now, I do realize no one likes to go to the doctors. I mean we don’t usually wake up and say…gee I wonder what my doctor is doing today. I think I should make an appointment to see him.
However, I HATE going to the doctor’s office and I REALLY HATE seeing a new doctor!!!!!!
I have quite a few issues. If you have read my older blogs you know one of them is seizures. I have not seen a neurologist in over 10 years because I gave up on them. So, I really hate discussing that problem, but I was expecting it. I also have two types of arthritis, asthma and Crohn’s disease. Again, I don’t like going over my history and what I am currently doing about them, but I was expecting it.
What I wasn’t expecting to discuss, my PTSD.
Before you ask, no my PTSD is not combat PTSD. I was not in the military. I wish my doctor would have asked that and just left it there. But NO! He wants to dive into what trauma in my life could have caused my PTSD.
Here is my theory on PTSD. It is kind of like Fight Club (movie reference). The first rule about Fight Club is you don’t talk about Fight Club! Yep! That sums up my feeling on my PTSD! Unfortunately, this new doctor did not agree.
***INSERT MELTDOWN HERE***
Now you would think someone who is writing her dissertation on PTSD was comfortable with her own fight. Well, most of the time I am. Unfortunately, the nature of PTSD does not leave you in control. You do not get to pick and choose how you will feel or respond. I have spoken in front of people before concerning my PTSD. Today, however, was just a day that PTSD was driving the bus and it was racing out of control very quickly!
Flashbacks flooded my head. I was crying the entire way home. None of my mind techniques would work. My service dog clung to me to try and make me feel safe and distract my mind.
I would love to tell you my first thoughts were some beautifully worded prayer that would tickle the ear of any Christian.
Nope!
I screamed at God! I screamed, “Why?”
I screamed, “How could you?”
I screamed, “Where are you?”
I screamed, “WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THIS!!!!”
What did I hear back? The Holy Spirit brought to my mind Psalms 29:11. He said I am giving you strength because you are mine. I am blessing you with peace. Accept it. Sit back and let me take control of the bus!
My heart stopped racing. My anger subsided. Reality began to return.
Thank you, Lord, for your strength and peace. You were with during the trauma. You held my hand and screamed and cried with me. You still hold my hand as you fill me with your strength and peace.
My voice has been heard by many young men and women. My story has been shared before. I have been the voice of the voiceless. I wish I would not have gone through my trauma, but I am glad that I survived. For if my journey can save even one person from giving in to the darkness, then I would gladly do it all over again.
Luke 1:38 Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.” Then the angel left her.
I am fourteen years old. I have known forever that our Redeemer was coming. But I NEVER imagined he would be coming like this. Through me!
Who am I?
I am just a young girl from Nazareth. Everyone knows nothing comes from Nazareth.
But yet you chose me. Me. You called me highly favored.
Who am I?
I am a young girl. I am not even married yet. Oh my! My poor fiance. He could have thrown me to the side. He could have killed me.
But he didn’t. He loved me. He cared for me. He accepted this child as his own.
Who am I?
I’ve never delivered a baby. I am so far from home by myself. Without my family. What if I do this all wrong? What if I am a terrible mother? What if you hate me?
But you didn’t. You were so tiny. You loved me. You changed me. You came to save and redeem me.
Who am I?
I am every woman and man who has been called to a purpose. A bigger purpose than themselves. A purpose they feel so ill-equipped for but answer “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”
