Finding Strength: Where Might You Gain Energy & Life Today?

Lately, I have been focused on strength. I have a very close friend who is going through a period of time here he needs strength. I have a coaching client who is needing strength to move forward with her side gig, which I believe has greater potential than her current business. My grandson got a burn on his leg yesterday and he needs the strength to make it through the school day today without thinking about his pain. We all need strength from time to time. But where do we find it?

What is the strongest animal on earth? Good question! Some say it is the African Elephant. They are also the largest, so it makes it difficult to analyze. Much of the elephant’s strength is in their trunks, which have more than 40,000 muscles—just in their trunk! As a contrast, humans have only 600 muscles in our entire bodies. These massive animals can carry more than six tons, knock down trees, and lift more than 600 pounds just with their trunks. But their trunks are also very gentle and can pick up a single blade of grass. And when they swim under water, it serves as a snorkel!

As we think about the strength and power that God has built into creation, we think about the power of the atom, the explosion of volcanos, and the measureless energy of the sun. Our God possesses endless energy which is never depleted. No, He is omnipotent and all powerful.

And this same limitless strength that He has is available to us when we’re tempted or tested. We live in a world that constantly tempts us. We are frequently facing circumstances that are challenging. We face situations which seem dark or impossible. At times, it is almost more than we can bear.

But scripture tells us to get wisdom. It tells us that the beginning of wisdom is to get skillful and godly wisdom. And within your acquiring, get understanding by actively seeking spiritual discernment, mature comprehension and logical interpretation.

Where do we find such wisdom? From God our infinite source of power. His limitless strength is available to us when we are tested by life’s circumstances. Scripture tells us in Hebrews 2:18, “He is able to aide those who are tested or tempted.” When we feel ourselves being tested, try praying, "I need your strength, Lord!"

A simple prayer for help, sincerely offered, avails much!

To be tempted is not sin. It is the yielding to it which we must fear.

I have found that the best remedy for those who are tempted, afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere quiet where they are alone with God, the heavens, and nature. There is an energy that come from being alone with God in nature.

Sometimes, to gain strength, we need to understand ourselves in the context of the vast universe God has made. You see, we can’t truly know who we are and why we are here until we know God. He has made everything beautiful in its time, and he wants us to appreciate his artistry. We can know God better through his majestic creation. So, every day I try to spend some of my prayer time in nature or with a view of it, giving thanks to God for the beauty around me.

A famous publication frequently posts pictures and articles about the most beautiful places on earth. And the pictures are incredible! Places like the Great Barrier Reef in Australia or Angel Falls in Venezuela. Honestly, if you were to go anywhere on earth to see something spectacular it wouldn’t be a palace or a temple. It wouldn’t be something that man built. But most of us can’t visit those spots. But we can go outside of our homes, we can go for a walk, we can drive to a neighborhood park. We can see the beautiful marshaling of clouds and the formation of a flock of birds or a majestic sunrise or sunset. I have seen some of those this week while spending some time at my lake house. Let me know if you would like to see some of the photos and I will post them separately.

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And in those times with God, we can find our strength. After playing three baseball games in a tournament a few Saturdays ago, my grandson wanted to go outside when we got to his house. Wow—after sitting in the hot sun for several hours, that was just about the last thing that I wanted to do! But I went outside. And we saw the most beautiful butterfly that I have ever seen. And when he saw it he said, ”A caterpillar asked a butterfly what it is like to fly. And the butterfly said it is great, but the inflight snacks are awful."

There you go—time in nature with God and a seven-year-olds humor. There is nothing like it on the planet! It gives me strength—how about you?