“But his bow remained firm and steady [in the Strength that does not fail], for his arms were made strong and agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, (by the name of the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel),…” – Genesis 49:24
Don’t you love when you are reading along in the Bible and you have an ah-ha moment? Where something stands out to you that you don’t recall noticing before?
This year I am reading through the Amplified version of the Bible and I am enjoying the deeper context that it gives the verses, such as above where Jacob (Israel) is blessing his sons. See how Strength is capitalized, indicating that it is Strength from God, and how the context states that the Strength does not fail?
Now if you were to ask me if I thought God’s Strength ever ran out, I would say of course not. But to have the phrase introduced that His Strength does not fail, that to me is an explosive thought! Just imagine how far you can take it!
Literal Strength
When we consider strength, we may think of muscles and toning. Even to take it back to – in my opinion – a literal meaning, can you even imagine a strength that does not fail? As in when we get worn out after a busy day, hard workout, long run, or taxing situation – our strength runs out.
But to consider that God gives a Strength that does not fail is awe inspiring! He equips and prepares us so well for what He has for us to walk through, be it literal or figurative. When we are on a path for Him, I believe He gives us this same strength. We must claim it and accept it and bring our best.
Strength to keep going, even when we’re ready to give up. Strength to get up and show up, even when you want to hide from the world. And a very real strength beyond what you can humanly account for. Our God equips us beyond words when we keep our focus on Him!
And do you know, exercise is a very literal accounting of this. When we workout and tone our bodies, the strength increases and we can do a little more and a little more. The harder we work, the more strength we develop! But if we were to be lazy and not be good stewards, we wouldn’t receive any of the benefits of strength.
Strength To Do Your Duty
Strength is not limited to only the physical. It includes, emotional, mental, and spiritual strength too. And much as is mentioned above, the more you tap into this strength, the stronger you will become. There will be moments in life that will take you beyond the strength you have been training to build. This is when God gives us a supernatural strength that surpasses understanding. Truly a Strength that does not fail.
We must be faithful and alert to use the strength that God gives us in our everyday lives. He always equips us, but He also gives us the freedom to choose to accept and use this strength or just to flounder. The Strength that does not fail makes me think of grace. Perhaps grace comes in different forms, and one of these forms is strength: made up of courage, resolve and steadfastness.
Never underestimate the power of showing up in all the seemingly small or tedious ways. I am convinced that God loves the details. So when we train ourselves to be detail-oriented, it is another way to honor Him! And the more we practice honoring Him in the little things, the more muscle memory we build for honoring Him in the bigger things!
Strength To Withstand The Enemy
The enemy can be insanely misleading and distracting. But realizing this helps us better prepare ourselves to withstand the frustrations and discouragement that can so easily prey on us. Just consider how we could apply a strength that does not fail to countering the lies of the enemy! What a precious gift God gives!
The enemy only wins when we give up. But because God is the source of our strength, we have the resources to hold steady and keep the faith. To renew our mind and strengthen ourselves in the Lord and in His mighty power! This Strength that does not fail will see us through any circumstance that comes our way. God is all knowing and is never surprised. We can rest confidently in Him and His ability to prepare us for where He leads us. What a wonderful promise and comfort!
Strength For Today
Don’t worry about tomorrow, instead focus on the grace and provision God gives you for today. You cannot tiptoe through life concerned about what might happen in the future, but rather you should live confidently in where God has you today. I am convinced that He has factored in all the details, nothing has slipped His mind. He knows your heart, your strengths and weaknesses, your tendencies and struggles.
We should always do our best to represent Him remarkably well. His strength never fails, He always equips us for where He leads us and His plans are perfect!
Instead of fretting about unknowns or what may happen, ask Him to draw you into alignment with His plans for you. It is a beautiful thing to accept the grace He so generously gives and get in agreement with the path He has for you to take!
Until Next Time!
Hope.