The Secret to Strength

“It is not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.”
Lou Holtz

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
Viktor Frankl

“The Lord is my strength and my song; He has become my salvation.”
Exodus 15:2

“You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.”
Augustine of Hippo

“It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.”
Edmund Hillary

“We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.”
Martin Luther King Jr.

Have you ever felt like the whole world was crashing down around you? Like you were alone, with no one to turn to? In moments of trial, we often yearn for strength—strength to endure, overcome, and press on. In those moments, we try to find strength from within ourselves, but most often, we seek support from those around us; we look to people to encourage us, build us up, or help us step out of our struggles. The need for encouragement is deeply human, and the presence of a Jonathan, a friend who strengthens us in God, is a gift we cherish. Yet, Scripture calls us to a deeper place, a place where strength is not merely derived from others or from within ourselves but is drawn directly from the source of all strength.

The Jonathan Factor
In 1 Samuel 23:16 we encounter a moment when Jonathan, the son of Saul, goes to David in the wilderness and “strengthened his hand in God” (ESV). David is hiding from Saul’s relentless pursuit, and Jonathan does not simply offer words of comfort; he strengthens David’s hand in God. This is not a pat on the back or a pep talk; it is a deliberate act of pointing David to the source of his true strength. The Hebrew word for strengthened is ḥāzaq (ַזַק חָָ ), a word that carries a sense of firm resolve to gain strength or to fortify. Jonathan’s encouragement is an active process of fortifying David, not in himself, or the people around him, but in his God. This moment is crucial because while the presence of a Jonathan in our lives is invaluable, the ultimate goal of such relationships is to direct us to God and not to become the foundation of our strength. Yet, we find ourselves particularly drawn to the Jonathan factor, both in receiving and giving. On the receiving end, we eagerly seek out those who can be our Jonathans—those who provide comfort and encouragement. In our zeal to find such support, we may overlook that the ultimate aim is not merely to receive comfort but to be directed to God as the true source of our strength. Similarly, we like being a Jonathan to others. However, if our role as a source of strength becomes central, we may unintentionally shift the focus from God to ourselves, becoming more concerned with how well we perform the role than with directing others to God. In the same way, our worship services, which are meant to be avenues for glorifying God and seeking His strength, can inadvertently shift focus toward ourselves. While building each other up and finding mutual encouragement is a biblical principle (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and is not inherently problematic, when it becomes the central focus, it risks becoming an idol. Our culture values comfort and affirmation, so we might shy away from tough conversations or hard truths to keep everyone feeling good. However, this can lead to a shallow faith, where people are focused on being liked rather than growing in their relationship with God. When we seek too much encouragement, we might start depending on others’ approval for our sense of worth, and this leads to a cycle where pleasing people becomes more important than pleasing God, something Paul warns against in Galatians 1:10. If we are too focused on keeping everyone happy, we might avoid the challenging aspects of discipleship, like correction and growth. Overemphasizing encouragement creates an echo chamber, where only affirming voices are heard, and any challenging or differing perspectives are shut out. When the emphasis overshadows our pursuit of God’s presence and strength, it subtly transforms from a means of grace into a distraction from the ultimate Source of our strength.

A Deliberate Choice
In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men returned to Ziklag, only to find it raised and burned by the Amalekites. Everything, including their wives, sons, and daughters, had been taken captive. Can you imagine coming home to find your entire life gone? But it gets worse. For David, his distress was not only external but also internal because his men, in their grief and bitterness, spoke of stoning him, blaming him for the calamity that had befallen them (1 Samuel 30:6). Talk about a bad day at the office. David was alone, carrying not just his grief but also the weight of his men’s anger. In this moment, David had every reason to succumb to despair or turn on his men. 1 Samuel 30:6 describes David as being greatly distressed “because all the people were bitter in soul” (ESV). The original Hebrew gives the sense of being squeezed or hemmed in on all sides. It is like David was caught in a vice, pressure coming from every direction. His men were so distressed that they threatened to stone David. That was not idle talk, these men were seriously considering killing their leader. David had several ways he could have responded, he could have justified himself. He could have explained the difficult decisions he had to make regarding their military strategy. He might have rationalized that given the unpredictable nature of their environment, leaving Ziklag unprotected was a risk they had to take. He might have sought to shift some of the blame away from himself. He could have pointed to the Amalekites as the true culprits, emphasizing their cruelty and the threat they posed, redirecting their frustration away from himself. He could have sought sympathy by openly sharing his grief over the loss of his family, aiming to create a sense of mutual empathy and solidarity. David might even have considered taking immediate action for revenge, mobilizing his men to pursue the Amalekites, driven by a desire to restore their families through sheer determination. This kind of action might have seemed like a natural, decisive response in such a moment of crisis. Yet, he chose a different path. “But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6, ESV). David was utterly alone, with no Jonathan to come to his side. Yet, it is in this solitude that David makes a deliberate and active choice, he strengthens himself in the Lord. Again, the Hebrew word ḥāzaq (ַזַק חָָ ) is used, but the context deepens our understanding of its meaning. This is not a passive receiving of strength. David is not merely waiting for strength to come; he is actively laying hold of it, choosing to find his refuge and empowerment in God. Here is where we must confront our own tendencies. So often, in moments of distress, we instinctively turn to others or look inward for strength. Yet, we do not want our relationships, even that of marriage, to replace the true source of strength. For David, there was a deliberate turning, a resolute decision to seek strength in God. Now, this in no way discounts the value of community or self-reflection, but to recognize that the ultimate source of our strength is external to us, and is found in the One who is unchanging, steadfast, and mighty to save. After David strengthened himself in the Lord and sought His guidance, he received a clear directive: “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue” (1 Samuel 30:8, ESV). Acting on God’s instruction, David and his men pursued the Amalekites, defeated them, and recovered all that had been taken (1 Samuel 30:18). The story demonstrates that divine strengthening leads to divine outcomes. When we align ourselves with God’s will, we are equipped not only to endure our trials but to emerge victorious. The act of strengthening ourselves in the Lord is a skill we can develop. The same God who empowered David is ready to strengthen us today, providing wisdom, courage, and the ability to recover what the enemy has stolen.

Strengthened by the Lord
Fast forward a few centuries to another man of God in crisis. Paul writes: “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth” (2 Timothy 4:17, ESV). This comes from Paul’s last letter to Timothy. He is in prison, facing death, and many of his friends have deserted him. Just before this verse, Paul says, “At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me” (2 Timothy 4:16, ESV). Despite being abandoned by his human supporters, Paul emphatically states that the Lord stood by him. Is that not powerful? When everyone else left, God remained, and He did not just stand there, Paul says the Lord strengthened him. The Greek word used here is endunamoō (ἐνδυναμόω). This word is derived from dynamis (δύναμις), meaning power or strength, and the prefix en- (ἐν), meaning in or into. Endunamoō signifies a dynamic process where strength is infused into someone, not a passive process but a continuous empowerment that enables Paul to persevere, preach the gospel, and finish his race. It is a reliance that is not circumstantial, whether surrounded by friends or deserted by all. Instead, it is strength rooted in a relationship with the Lord – the essence of what it means to be strengthened in, by, and through the Lord. But here is what is interesting: Paul saw his ordeal not just as a personal trial but an opportunity for the gospel to be fully proclaimed. His perspective went beyond his immediate circumstances to God’s bigger picture.

Deliberate Pursuit of the Lord’s Strength
As we reflect on these passages, the common thread is the deliberate and active nature of finding strength in the Lord. It is a deliberate and conscious choice to draw near to God and lay hold of His strength. This pursuit involves several key aspects of spiritual life that are essential for us to consider:

1. Reverence: Our reverence for God must be characterized by intimacy and trust. “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul” (Psalm 23:1-3, ESV). We must prioritize our relationship with God through regular prayer, worship, and meditation on His Word. Jesus emphasized this priority in John 15:4-5, “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches.”
2. Revelation: The revelation of God’s Word was a source of strength for both David and Paul. David often found solace in the promises of God, as recorded in the Psalms, while Paul reminded Timothy that “All Scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16, ESV). Meditating on Scripture grounds us in the truth of God’s character and His promises, providing the foundation for our strength.
3. Remembrance: Frequently recall God’s past faithfulness as a source of encouragement. In moments of crisis, remember all that God has done. The writer of Hebrews encourages us inHebrews 10:23 (ESV) “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” Remembering God’s past faithfulness can be a powerful tool because, in moments of doubt or fear, we can recall these testimonies and remind ourselves that God is unchanging and faithful.

4. Rejoicing: The Psalms are replete with David’s struggles, but more importantly, they are filled with praise and adoration of God. Worship and rejoicing have a unique way of lifting our spirits and shifting our focus from our problems to God’s greatness. Psalm 34:1-3 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. Oh, magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together!”
5. Rulership: David and Paul trusted God’s sovereign control over their lives. David, amid chaos, trusted that God would deliver him. Paul, facing death, was confident that the Lord would bring him safely into His heavenly Kingdom (2 Timothy 4:18). Trust in God’s rulership is a crucial aspect of drawing strength from Him because it shifts our focus from our circumstances to the One who holds all things in His hands.
6. Request: In his distress, and after strengthening himself in the Lord, David inquired of the Lord (1 Samuel 30:8). This act of seeking God’s will demonstrated his dependence on God’s direction rather than his own perception. In times of decision or distress, actively strengthening ourselves in God and seeking His guidance through prayer and His Word is crucial.
7. Response: Strength is also found in the act of response and obedience to God’s will. David not only sought the Lord’s direction but also responded with obedience (1 Samuel 30:7-8), even when faced with anger and threats from his men. Paul, despite his trials, continued to preach the gospel, fulfilling the ministry to which he was called. Responding to God’s will often brings about the strength we seek, as we align ourselves with His purposes.
   
   

Our God is faithful. He stands with us in our distress, strengthens us in our weakness, and works through us to accomplish His purposes. Finding our strength in God is our blueprint for navigating the trials of life. In our darkest moments, we have access to a source of strength that transcends human understanding, and we can find the strength to endure and overcome any challenge. We can find comfort in knowing that God stands with us, especially when others desert us, and we should actively seek God’s strengthening, recognizing that He empowers us not just for our benefit but for the fulfillment of His purposes. We can trust God for the strength we need to fulfill our mission, and although God’s deliverance may not always look like we expect, it is no less real. Dear reader, take heart from these stories and make it your own. In every season of life, turn to the Lord, draw strength from His unfailing love, and walk in the victory that He has promised. For “the Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1, ESV). God is with you, ready to strengthen you, not just to survive but to fulfill the unique calling He has for your life. In a world that often feels chaotic and overwhelming, it is comforting to know we serve a God who never abandons us. A God who not only stands with us in our darkest hours but empowers us to come through them stronger.