Welcome to "Tuesday Mornings," always a source of encouragement and inspiration for Christian leaders everywhere.

 

The secular world (and in some cases the religious world) celebrates success. The world admires strength and disdains (or ignores) weakness. The world especially likes the "I did it my way" kind of person who achieves success by overcoming nearly impossible odds. Take Lance Armstrong, a professional bike rider, who suffered cancer and later won the Tour de France—not just once, but seven consecutive times. 

 

But take a cheater, and the world chooses to look away. The world has no patience with losers, underachievers, and goof-offs. Win a baseball batting title and then have it discovered that steroids made it possible, and wear that label for life. No one will ever forget. Winning back a lost reputation is almost impossible.

 

But not everyone can be a world champion. Not everyone can perform well above average. Not everyone will succeed in life. Not everyone is healthy and full of energy. Some are tired. Some have been hit hard with physical problems and ailments. Some have lost their jobs and their businesses.

 

The question is this: Does God help people who suffer losses like these? That is the topic for this week's epistle. It is entitled, "God's Strength and Our Weaknesses." Read on below whenever you are ready, and then prepare yourself for a most interesting week. God has something good ahead for you. He has left promises in his Word. Are you ready? (Say "yes").  Read on and start believing.

 

Have a surprising week.

 

Tom Barnard

A Senior Encourager

 

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God’s Strength and Our Weaknesses

Tom Barnard

 

aybe it is due to the fact that I was born a large baby and have remained that way (large, not a baby) for all of my life. In any case, I have never thought that Isaiah 40:30 was written for me. No doubt it was written for the athlete—especially someone like Michael Jordan. But it was not written for me. Do you remember the passage?

 

“Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up

with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

 

Isaiah didn’t have me in mind when he wrote those words. I don’t soar at all. I’m anchored to the ground. I get winded climbing a flight of stairs. Standing up from seat 16D on American Airlines after a 4-hour flight from Boston to Dallas last week just about did me in. I nearly fainted—and that was before I took my first step. I had a doctor-supervised stress test Monday. I thought I would tell my physician that I already had a stress test on American. Did that convince the doctor? Do pigs fly?

 

The fact is that God expects us to become spiritually fit. And he is willing to help get us there. Not an ounce of spiritual fat will do. He wants lean followers. He knows we all have weaknesses, but he wants to strengthen those spiritual muscles and reduce areas of flab. Here are some promises from the Word:

 

“Be strong and of good courage, do not fear…for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

“The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.” (Psalm 29:11)

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (Ps. 73:26)

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth…gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:28, 29)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)

“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:16, 17)

 

What do these promises tell us about the ability God has to meet our spiritual shortfalls?

            They tell us about God’s power…

                        …They tell us about God’s patience…

                                    …They tell us about God’s love…

                                                …They tell us about God’s willingness to help…

                                                            …They tell us about God’s promise to be there for us!

 

And these promises tell us that there are no mountains to climb to reach the Father. They tell us there are no special pre-requisites to qualify for his strength. God never says, “Climb up to where I am.” Instead, He says, “Wait where you are. I’m coming down to meet you at the exact point of your need.” He says, “Don’t despair; hope is on the way.” He says, “We can build your strength together.” He says, “Believe.”

 

Do you remember the words Jesus spoke to the man who had been a cripple for all of his adult life? He didn’t say, “Meet me at the synagogue this afternoon at three, and we’ll talk about this.” He said, “Do you want to be well?” (Remember, not everyone who is sick wants to leave their spot poolside and take responsibility for their lives.) The crippled man said, “Sir, I have no one to help me into the water when it is troubled.” Jesus said, “You’ve just met the Healer. Pick up your mat and walk!” I believe He is saying those words to us.  He is saying, “Take my hand. Stand up. We can do this thing together.” Whatever it is!