"He Supplies Strength" by Robin Radi
Isaiah 40:23 He reduces princes to nothing,
O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? (Isaiah 40:27a, NLT). We hate being weak. We especially hate others to see us in our weakness. One of the worst parts about visiting loved ones in the hospital is seeing them st their weakest. God, however, sees us in our real condition. Even when we feel strong, He knows we are not. Our helplessness forces us to seek strength outside of ourselves. Some seek strength in power, wealth, or success. But God is the one who freely gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. In fact, it is not until we admit our weakness that He can truly supply us with His strength.
This God of ours takes our helpless fragility and announces victory over self-dependence. Human weakness is ugly, but human weakness under the shelter of the power of the Almighty is truly beautiful. It is an inspiring thing to watch. God’s exclusive ability to turn evil into good, weakness into strength, is what pulls us through into purpose.
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Isaiah 40:23 He reduces princes to nothing,
the rulers of the earth to emptiness.
24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
scarcely their stem taken root in the ground,
when he blows on them, they dry up,
and the whirlwind carries them off like straw.
25 “With whom, then, will you compare me?
With whom am I equal?” asks the Holy One.
26 Turn your eyes to the heavens!
See who created these?
He brings out the army of them in sequence,
summoning each by name.
Through his great might and his massive strength,
not one of them is missing.
27 Why do you complain, Ya‘akov;
why do you say, Isra’el,
“My way is hidden from Adonai,
my rights are ignored by my God”?
28 Haven’t you known, haven’t you heard
that the everlasting God, Adonai,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
does not grow tired or weary?
His understanding cannot be fathomed.
29 He invigorates the exhausted,
he gives strength to the powerless.
30 Young men may grow tired and weary,
even the fittest may stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in Adonai will renew their strength,
they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings;
when they are running they won’t grow weary,
when they are walking they won’t get tired.
41:1 “Keep silence before me, coastlands!
Let the peoples replenish their strength!
Let them approach; then let them speak.
Let us assemble for judgment.”
2 Who has raised from the east one who is just
and called him to be in his service?
He hands nations over to him
and subjects kings to him;
his sword reduces them to dust,
his bow to driven straw.
3 He pursues them, passing on unscathed,
hardly touching the path with his feet.
4 Whose work is this? Who has brought it about?
He who called the generations from the beginning,
“I, Adonai, am the first;
and I am the same with those who are last.”(Complete Jewish Bible)
***O Jacob, how can you say the LORD does not see your troubles? (Isaiah 40:27a, NLT). We hate being weak. We especially hate others to see us in our weakness. One of the worst parts about visiting loved ones in the hospital is seeing them st their weakest. God, however, sees us in our real condition. Even when we feel strong, He knows we are not. Our helplessness forces us to seek strength outside of ourselves. Some seek strength in power, wealth, or success. But God is the one who freely gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. In fact, it is not until we admit our weakness that He can truly supply us with His strength.
This God of ours takes our helpless fragility and announces victory over self-dependence. Human weakness is ugly, but human weakness under the shelter of the power of the Almighty is truly beautiful. It is an inspiring thing to watch. God’s exclusive ability to turn evil into good, weakness into strength, is what pulls us through into purpose.
***
Hymn for Today: "Just a Closer Walk with Thee" by Anonymous
1. I am weak but Thou art strong;
Jesus, keep me from all wrong;
I'll be satisfied as long
As I walk, let me walk close to Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
2. Thro' this world of toil and snares,
If I falter, Lord, who cares?
Who with me my burden shares?
None but Thee, dear Lord, none but Thee.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
3. When my feeble life is o'er,
Time for me will be no more;
Guide me gently, safely o'er
To Thy kingdom shore, to Thy shore.
Refrain: Just a closer walk with Thee,
Grant it, Jesus, is my plea,
Daily walking close to Thee,
Let it be, dear Lord, let it be.
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Thought for Today: But the Lord is worthy of trust; he will make you firm and guard you from the Evil One.(2 Thessalonians 3:3).
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Please pray: That many people in Russia will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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Please pray: That many people in Russia will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Ruach HaKodesh.
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