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"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power
of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and
fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength" (Isaiah
40:29-31a NIV)
I am often so weak after my morning shower I can
hardly gather the strength to get dressed. Especially the mornings I wash my
hair, I feel depleted of all energy.
Multiple sclerosis has a way of pointing out how tired
and totally exhausted a person is capable of feeling. I don’t like it, but
it is one of the side effects of the disease I live with.
I own a shower chair, a roll-in-shower, and a
three-wheel scooter, plus other paraphernalia that go along with living life
in an imperfect body. I am grateful for every piece of equipment I own but
with all the apparatuses I have at my disposal, they still do not take away
the weakness I live with.
After my shower, I proceed to try and get dressed; I
must say it is not an easy task. Often I think I can't possibly manage to
get my clothes on, let alone make it through the day. Something as simple as
dressing, which I once managed with ease, now takes all of my strength and
leaves me wiped out and sometimes in tears.
But instead of giving up, I cry out to God in my
weakness, "Help me, God; I just can't do this alone. I need you!"
I am thankful for His strength that is always available
in our weaknesses. His power and competence is not only available to those
people who are handicapped or those with weakened bodies, but to those who
are emotionally and spiritually faint. He supplies authority, control,
influence, and ability to all those who put their faith and hope in Him, no
matter their age, physical capabilities or mental or emotional needs.
God gives us strength when we are tired from the stress
of the day. He supplies us with courage and will when we feel down and
discouraged. He gives us power to rise above the evil forces that surround
us as we live our lives in a sin-filled world. He gives us the power to
resist the devil and his forces when they attack us.
It is God’s strength that we need to resist what we, in
ourselves alone, are incapable of standing against. With His might we can
combat what the world throws at us and be victorious. It is with His
strength, His power and His grace, that we can have what we need to help us
face each day and not feel defeated.
Young or old, rich or poor, in sickness or health, we
all need the strength God provides to make it through this life. The great
thing about it is, He is more than happy to supply our every need; we only
need to ask Him.
When we are weak, He is strong, and when we feel we
can't go on, we can rest in the hollow of His arm, gaining strength to
continue, no matter what we face.
Cry out to God in your weakness; He is waiting and
willing to help.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for supplying my strength when
I am weak. Thank You for picking me up when I fall, for being the power
behind my endeavors, for helping me as I face the day with all my
imperfections, and life’s trials and temptations.
Betty King is an author of three published books, a
Life Style and Devotional newspaper columnist and public speaker who lives
with the disease MS. She is a frequent contributor to Chicken Soup books and
a variety of other publications. Visit her Website
www.bettyking.net or email her at
baking2@charter.net . You may read excerpts from her books, including
her latest, The Fragrance of Life, on her website. |
