God is a real source of strength. Whether in despair, under pressure or just plain weary, you can tap into God’s strength through the power of the Holy Spirit.
After 70 years of exile in Babylon, God allowed the children of Israel to be released from captivity and return to their homeland. What they found after returning from the journey put them in a state of despair. They saw the land desolate and encountered hostility. They lost hope. Pessimism and lethargy ruled their minds…until God, through His prophets, encouraged the people and gave them strength.
God would prove to them that success would come in His strength; through His capacity—the capacity of His Spirit. They would learn victory is, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
RELEVANCE
God uses people with spiritual strength as well as wisdom, mechanical and leadership skills to do His work. He works through them. Nehemiah took command of the building project to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. He gathered the entire community and organized the work projects. The people encountered much opposition and hardship. They experienced mockery and slander, conspiracy and extortion, and were likewise discouraged. Finally, however, the report went out:
“So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God” (Nehemiah 6:15-16).
What work do you need to get accomplished? What deadline do you need to meet? What situation do you need to see resolved? Call upon the Lord for His strength.
REFLECT AND RELATE
What might be your sources of discouragement?
With whom are you surrounding yourself?
What areas of spiritual gifts might you tap into to increase strength?
REFERENCES
Isaiah 25:4; 26:4; 40:29:31