I might be dating myself with this, but do you remember Popeye the Sailor Man? He is a cartoon character featured in a comic strip, a TV show, and a 2002 movie starring Robin Williams. One of the main things I remember about him was that he would eat a can of spinach whenever he needed to increase his strength to superhuman levels. Wouldn’t it be great if it was that easy? Or what about if we ate chocolate instead of spinach? That would be amazing, and with my love for chocolate I would be unstoppable!
There are several different kinds of strength. According to Meriam Webster’s Dictionary, strength can be defined as:
- The quality or state of being strong, capacity for exertion or endurance
- A quality or feature that makes someone or something effective or useful,a strong attribute or inherent asset
- The quality that allows someone to deal with problems in a determined and effective way
The first definition has to do with physical strength. The degree of physical strength we need depends on what we’re going through. If we’re running a marathon, it takes conditioning to be strong enough to finish the race. We can develop physical strength by working out, strength training and cardio. It’s also important to eat well and get enough sleep. If your body is tired and weak, it’s hard to make it through challenges and tough times.
The second definition relates to the strengths and abilities we have that make us effective. Think about the role you have right now. What are your strengths as a mom, leader, ministry leader, or as a friend? Think about your natural abilities. If you were going to a job interview, how would you answer the question, “What are your strengths?” Do you know what you do well? According to Tom Rath, author of Strengths Finder 2.0, “One big problem is that most people are either unaware of, or unable to describe, their own strengths…” One way to discover your strengths is to take the Strength Finder Assessment. You can also ask your spouse, friends, co-workers or family what you’re good at or what you do well. Their insights might surprise and encourage you. Knowing our strengths can help boost your confidence and help you be more effective.
The third definition has to do with having strength to deal with hard times. Where do we get our inner strength when things get tough? As former first lady Eleanor Roosevelt said, “Women are like tea bags. We don’t know our true strength until we are in hot water.” We need mental, emotional and spiritual strength to weather the “hot water” life brings us. Whether we are leading in the boardroom, classroom or the home, we all need inner strength to get us through every day. But how do we get this type of strength? Where does it come from? There are different resources we can go to help us gain inner strength. Sometimes it helps to listen to a podcast, or read an inspiring or encouraging book. It can also be helpful to talk to someone about what we’re going through. A mental health professional or a pastor can both give us tools to help us.
When we are feeling weak or tired, spiritual strength will give us the fortitude to get through anything. For me, that inner strength comes from God. The Bible tells us in Isaiah 41:10, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you.” One of favorite worship songs is “Total Praise” by Richard Smallwood. The lyrics in the chorus are “You are the source of my strength; you are the strength of my life.” We may know this intellectually, and believe it, but what does this look like practically? One thing we can do is to ask God for strength. We can begin each day with a simple 3-minute practice. Sit quietly, open your hands (literally, palms up), and pray: “Lord, I cannot do today in my own strength. I need Your strength. Whatever I may face today, I am trusting in You to be the source of my strength”. There are so many verses in the Bible that talk about strength. Reading stories about people in the Bible whose strength came from God can also encourage us.
We need strength in all areas of our life. Where do you need to focus right now? Consider reflecting on this by journaling your thoughts using the following prompts:
- The area of my life where I most need strength right now is…
- If I had strength in this area, my life would be….and I would be….
- If I turned to God for strength I would feel….
The good news is we can develop the physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual strength we need. My prayer is that you discover and find peace in God who is the source of all of our strength. With God’s strength we can make it through anything!
