Strength: God's Power Made Perfect in Weakness

Strength in the Kingdom of God is not measured by muscle, talent or willpower, but by character anchored in the Lord. This article explores what strength of character looks like, why self-sufficiency is dangerous, and how God's power is released when we acknowledge our weakness and rely on Him.

Strength of Character

Physical strength is readily observed, but strength of character is of greater significance in the Kingdom of God. Having strength of character means not allowing others to dictate our responses, but instead having the courage to stand up for our beliefs. It may mean standing aside for the good of others, or refusing to retaliate against the negative actions of others, choosing instead to make the morally right response. Jesus taught that His blessings reside with those who live like this (Mt 5:3-12).

“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8:10). God has immense pleasure in having close fellowship with humanity, and it was the anticipated joy of redeemed people being in heaven with Him that sustained Jesus on the cross (Jn 15:10-11; Heb 12:2). A deep, sustaining relationship with ‘the God of Heaven’ will also enable us to come through suffering, ‘strong in the Lord’ and rejoicing in being ‘counted worthy’.

God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and sovereign (in control) and can do whatever He wishes according to His character, yet in our personal lives, to advance with Him He restricts Himself to our co-operation and so He won’t override our choice (Ps 115:3). He strengthens those whose hearts are fully committed to Him, giving power and vigour to the weak and those who seek Him (2 Chr 16:8-9; Ps 84:5, 105:4; Isa 40:28-31, 41:10, 50:10; 2 Cor 12:9). Human effort and abilities are necessary, yet on their own will not accomplish much of lasting eternal value. Rather trust God to enhance your service by His Spirit to accomplish what He desires. “Go in the strength you have”, for He works through humans who are available, obedient, committed and humble (Jdg 6:14; Mk 16:20).

In myself I can’t, but with Christ I can – 2 Corinthians 12:9

God said to Joshua, “Be strong and courageous…I will be with you wherever you go” (Josh 1:9).

The Holy Spirit is within us, yet we must rely on Him and obediently co-operate by “loving the Lord with all our strength” to experience the victory that Jesus died to gain for us (Mt 12:30; 1 Jn 3:8). Be dependent on Him, recognising His hand in all matters, for it is in association with, not isolation from God, His Word and Spirit, that our ‘inner man’ is strengthened and He enables us (Ps 119:28; Hab 3:19; Eph 3:16; Col 1:11; 1 Pet 5:10). We will never reach the state where we don’t need God’s help. The Psalmist said, “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion for ever” (Ps 73:26).

Like a muscle, spiritual strength is increased through use and exercise. Faith grows as we act on God’s Word in the everyday matters of life – each small step of obedience, each prayer offered and each burden borne with Him develops the “spiritual muscle” on which greater challenges can later be borne. Jesus taught that “whoever has will be given more” (Mt 25:29); Paul urged Timothy to “train yourself to be godly”, for godliness has value for both the present life and the life to come (1 Tim 4:7-8); and the writer to the Hebrews describes the mature as those “who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil” (Heb 5:14). Strength we never exercise will never grow – so use what God has given, and He will increase it.

The Danger of Self-Sufficiency

It is good to develop and improve our God-given natural abilities and talents; yet like our weaknesses that give Satan a foothold to attack, our strengths (the areas where we think we won’t fall, believing we can handle the situation without relying on God’s strength) can also result in our downfall (Deut 8:17-19; 1 Cor 10:12; Eph 4:27). King Solomon had great wisdom but didn’t fully apply it and had a serious weakness, being led into idolatry by marrying non-Jewish women (1 Kgs 11:1-8). King Nebuchadnezzar proudly considered all he had done was by his own ability; he was humbled, then later acknowledged God as the Most High (Dan 4:30-37).

We are in a dangerous position of self-sufficiency if we think “My own hand has achieved the victory” or consider we are standing firm, “in need of nothing” (Jdg 7:2; Rev 3:17). The Bible states that pride is quickly followed by a fall, and Satan is always looking for defenceless victims to destroy (Prov 16:18; 1 Pet 5:8). Declare, “The Lord is my strength” as you tackle the challenges of life, relying on His strength and enablement, for without Him we will not be victorious (Ps 27:1, 28:7, 46:1, 68:35, 118:14; Isa 45:24).

God's Strength Made Perfect in Weakness

God said to Paul, “My strength is made perfect in your weakness”. Paul’s response was, when I’m weak, then I can rely on Your divine strength; my weakness is turned into His strength (2 Cor 12:9-10; Heb 11:34). Christ strengthens me, enabling me to do His will and faithfully endure the difficulties that arise in life (Phil 4:13). It is through submission to God’s will that we overcome the power of Satan – “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 5:9). By first aligning ourselves with God through our total submission to Him we are able to utilise His strength to stand against the tactics of Satan and pull down spiritual strongholds (2 Cor 10:4; Eph 6:10-11). In our own strength we are powerless to repel Satan’s attacks, just as we can’t be saved without His grace, yet by reliance on Him we are victorious (1 Cor 15:57; Eph 2:8-9; 2 Tim 2:1).

Visualise yourself victorious in Christ

Do not rely on your personal talent or resources but allow God to work through you and on your behalf (Zech 4:6; Eph 1:18-23, 3:20).

We cannot stand against Satan on our own – he is far too powerful for any of us to withstand in our own ability – yet we are not to be paralysed by fear either. The answer is not to fight harder in our own strength, but to join forces with Christ, who has already disarmed the powers of darkness and triumphed over them at the cross (Col 2:15). When we draw on His ability rather than ours, we share in His victory over all the power of the enemy: “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 Jn 4:4); “I have given you authority … over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Lk 10:19). Fear melts away when we remember that the battle is the Lord’s, and that in every situation we are “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom 8:37; 1 Sam 17:47).

We are weak on our own, but strong with the Lord

Just as an angel strengthened Jesus when He was praying just before His arrest, those ‘stronger in the Lord’ are to encourage and build up weaker Christians by helping to bear their burdens (Lk 22:32,43; Rom 15:1). Do we help those who are weaker than we are to become strong, so that in turn they can minister to others? Paul testified, “The Lord stood at my side and gave me strength (2 Tim 4:17).

If we belong to God, obey Him and diligently do what is right we will be strong and will not fall (Job 17:9; Mt 7:24-25; 2 Pet 1:10).

Our strength is not only as individuals but as a collective. As we join forces with others, God multiplies our effectiveness – “How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight” (Deut 32:30) – for “two are better than one… and a cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Eccl 4:9,12). We are stronger together, in fellowship and unity with God’s people, than we could ever be alone.

Reflection and Application

Declare, “The Lord is my strength” each time you face a challenge this week.
Identify one area where you have been relying on your own ability, and deliberately hand it to God in prayer.
Choose a Christ-like response when others provoke you – refuse to retaliate.
Encourage a weaker Christian by helping to bear their burden.