Proverbs 24.10
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”
We live in a dramatically broken world. Like it or not, you will be confronted with adversity. That means you shouldn’t be surprised when the storm hits; you should be prepared. If you aren’t prepared, you will be constantly caught off guard, stressed, and unable to live and work as God intended. You will not experience the power and the peace the Lord provides.
In the middle of trouble, people will run somewhere for refuge. There are many pseudo-sanctuaries where people tend to hide from adversity: some run to another person, some to entertainment, a substance, food, complaining and blaming, etc.. But these are pseudo-sanctuaries, and none of the can provide real and lasting shelter, so putting hope in them only adds disappointment and more stress to the trouble that people are already experiencing.
Being a follower of Jesus means recognizing and trusting in the Lord as the true Source of protection, rest, and strength in the midst of the storm. The Lord provides the strength needed to face adversity. This is a constant theme in the Psalms, as King David faced many serious and dangerous challenges.
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me … The Lord is the strength of his people.” (Psalm 28.7-8)
“O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me.” (Psalm 7.1)
The Lord as the provider of strength is also a theme in the great prophets of the Old Testament.
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for 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 40:29-31)
The New Testament continues the message. It is only through faith in Jesus that we have the strength to face the challenges and difficulties of life. Paul expresses it with great clarity in the book of Philippians:
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
Having said this, please note that Paul makes it clear in this Philippians passage that he had to learn to trust the Lord in the midst of the difficulties he faced. Twice Paul says that he had to learn to find his strength in Jesus.
What an important truth this is!! Strength is not simply something the Lord gives you; rather, strength is something the Lord teaches you, and something you must learn through the powerful combination of faith in Jesus that empowers disciplined practice. It is possible to be a Christian who doesn’t learn strength … a Christian who is saved, but weak … a Christian described by the proverb at the top of this blog: “If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.”
The Lord calls you to himself, and he seeks to make you strong in the midst of the storm. He does not want you to faint on the day of adversity. This is why I repeatedly say, trust God and do the work.
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore …” (Ephesians 6.13-14)
More tomorrow …
