Strength is not a quality that only requires grit. Strength can be tender, kind, loving, and genuine.
Life takes courage. We collectively face adversity, distress, and affliction. There will be suffering, regrets, and losses. Life will also be messy and chaotic, but we can brave the heartache, the sorrow, the pain.
We’ve all heard “you are stronger than you think” or “you can handle whatever comes your way”... But what if it takes more than our physical strength, more than our mental strength?
What about our inner strength?
I believe our “inner strength” is rooted in God. God is with us in the unhappy, difficult, and tragic moments of our lives. Our inner strength is not entirely of our own doing. We can rest in knowing that God is tried and true. God is more resilient, steadfast, and enduring than anything that comes our way.
The older I get, the more reliant I become on my faith and belief in God’s strength and guidance. Our own abilities and efforts are not enough. Faith is having the strength to handle our fears, anxieties, and struggles. Embracing the mystery of faith is an opportunity to learn, grow, and fortify ourselves.
Despite our human limitations, we are created and called to respond with love, devotion, action, and service. Daily, we see insurmountable perseverance and fortitude in others, and this alone strengthens our spirits!
LOVE is a strength. Some prefer to say love is a form of strength. Loving helps us increase and maintain the flexibility life asks of us. Actively loving is like strengthening our muscles; the more we do it, the stronger we get.
We can be the kind of people we want to be. We can be the joy and delight-filled humanity we dream of being.
How might our spirits be strengthened? How might we strengthen another?
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… treat others with dignity
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… accept and give compliments
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… hold others in prayer
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… do good works
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… move toward life’s challenges and difficulties *Ephesians 3:14-21
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… embrace our limits, weaknesses, and set boundaries
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… accept and give support mentally, physically, spiritually
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… seek grace and humility
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… discover your God-given gifts and celebrate them in others
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… Love without ceasing *1 Corinthians 13:7-8
Relying on our inner strength is a daily invitation and responsibility. Obstacles and circumstances out of our control may weaken our inner strength. Our vulnerabilities may cause us to deny or ignore God. Look to those who support, listen, and embrace you — they are the loving light of God giving you earthly strength and sustenance.
God gives good advice:
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
These are trying times; let your challenges make you stronger. Never give up, never quit.
Keep the faith!
JJH
*I made this art with Reclaimed-Repurposed-Reimagined Nautical Sails.