Be Strong

“You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”   The verse I got in my quiet time today from 2 Tim 2:1.

What does it mean to be strong?   I am reminded of that section in Joshua where the Lord tells Joshua to be strong and courageous 4 times.    (Josh 1)

Does it mean don’t cry at the funeral?   Don’t cry when people are kind and loving to you?   I don’t think so.   Jesus wept and He is the strongest man I know.

I think that being strong is set in the context of battle.   You either face the enemy or you run away.   There are many ways to run away.   Some people try drugs or alcohol because they can’t face the pain.   Some immerse themselves in something else to keep so busy that they keep pushing it to the outside.   But the brave thing to do, is to face the pain, recognise it, embrace it, go through it.

Who is the enemy in this battle?   It is the father of lies and his greatest weapons are lies.   Lies like:

“see, God doesn’t love you, look what he did to you” 

or “It is all you fault.   If only…”

or even “God is punishing you because you are not good enough.”

There are many lies in his arsenal.   Being strong is being able to discern the lies and to resist them.   To stay close to Jesus and to trust Him no matter what.  To use the word of God which is the truth against the lies.

Don’t try to do it on your own.   There are people all around willing and able to help you.   Counsellors, pastors, friends, doctors, professionals, even strangers if God chooses to use them.

And whatever you do, don’t go into battle without your armour.   (Eph 6)

Being strong is also being able to resist the temptation of looking inward.   When you are in pain it is easy to shut out the rest of the world and focus only on your own pain.   There are other people out there, many of them also in pain, many of them needing you to be strong for them.

Being strong is being able to cling tenaciously to Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.   Trust Him.   Stand on His promises.

…and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  (Phil 4:&)

I hope that I will be able to do this, to resist the lies, to look outwards and to cling to Christ.   “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”