Walking in God’s Strength

My father is now in his mid-80s and is retired from pastoring due to health issues, but he still fills the pulpit occasionally. One of the struggles his health gives him is shortness of breath, yet it has never stopped him from preaching. Several times, he has been sitting in the pew waiting to preach, trying to catch his breath, but the minute he stepped into the pulpit, he had all the strength he needed.

The Lord can give you strength and energy in times of need. He can sustain you over long periods of struggle and assist you in crucial moments. For a biblical example, we should remember there were two who did not shrink back when Israel originally spied out the promised land—Joshua and Caleb. These two were ready to take the land at that time, but Israel and the other spies feared the people of the land and did not trust God to give it to them.

This lack of faith resulted in Israel wandering the wilderness for 40 years. The Lord used these years to accomplish many things, but one of the primary purposes was to wait until all the men over the age of 20 at the time of spying out the land had died before allowing Israel to enter it.

They had refused to go in when God told them to, so they died in the wilderness. Only their children were allowed to enter. Of all the men over 20, only Joshua and Caleb were alive when God gave Israel the land.

Joshua, as we know, led the people into the land after Moses died. The Lord used him mightily. Caleb also became a great man of God. We are told in Joshua 14:7 that the Lord kept him alive for 40 years of wandering, and five years after entering, he was given a land of his own.

Caleb was 85 years old when he received his land, and scripture says he was still as strong as the day Moses sent him to spy out the land 45 years earlier. He continued in this God-given strength to capture the land allotted to him.

What are we to do with this knowledge besides marvel at God’s faithfulness? One takeaway is to remember that God is sovereign over our health and energy. He can give us exactly what we need when we need it.

Like my dad’s experience, I remember reading something similar about David Brainerd as he struggled with his illness. He would say, “I barely had the strength to stand,” but as he began to preach, the Lord assisted him.

The same was also reported of George Whitfield. I’m sure many others could testify to the same thing. Of course, for those who have gone on to be with the Lord, the time eventually came when God said their work was complete, and no more strength was supplied, but even that is God’s goodness.

Caleb’s story is not about a man’s natural abilities, health, or genetics. It is a story of God blessing his child with strength, who walks according to his ways. Never forget God gives strength to the weary and can also supply strength to you. Walk closely with the Lord and in the power of his might.

-D. Eaton