Haggai 2:4 But now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ declares the Lord. ‘Be strong, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and work. For I am with you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.
Jhn 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Php 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.
Neh 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Zec 8:9 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “Let your hands be strong, you who in these days have been hearing these words from the mouth of the prophets who were present on the day that the foundation of the house of the LORD of hosts was laid, that the temple might be built.
Isa 35:3-4 Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.”
Jdg 6:14 And the LORD turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours and save Israel from the hand of Midian; do not I send you?”
2Co 4:1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart.
Gal 6:9 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.
Rom 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
In our lives, we will face many trials and troubles. Some due to; what we intentionally do and should not have, what others have done, and the big mystery of how God allows does these to either test or grow us.
We live in a sin-filled world with Satan the initiator, author, and tempter of and to every person born. Satan’s cunning, deceptive, and lying ways affect the world in which we live and we will experience the effects of it.
Arrogance, pride, boastful, greed, selfishness, self-reliance, self-worth, lying, stealing, murder, adultery, envy, jealousy, lovers of pleasure, wicked, conceited, without self-control, brutal, unholy, heartless, ungrateful, disobedient, lovers of money, abusive, scoffing, treacherous, reckless, careless, without love, sexual immorality, idolaters, ungodly lusts of what the world has to offer, power-hungry, denying God, mockers, drunkards, refusing the truth, stiff-necked, harden hearts, deafened ears, selfish gain, etc….. are all born of Satan throughout mankind and will cross our paths and affect our lives.
Praise be to God we are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ and the indwelling Holy Spirit from losing heart and growing weary. How these events will be used for our good and God’s purposes is a mystery to me. Throughout God’s Word, we see the effects of sin and sinful acts and how God used these for the good of a person or nation. Still, it is a mystery that is in God’s will and purpose on earth this side of eternity.
Where does my strength come from? It comes from the Lord.
Who is my strength? The Lord.
How is my hope? The Lord.
Who holds me in His every loving hands? The Lord.
Where should I turn in times of trials and troubles? The Lord.
Can I face these trials and troubles alone? No
Will God ever leave me or forsake me? No
The effects of this sinful world in our lives does have a counter provided by God through Jesus Christ and the infilling Holy Spirit. He is our rock, refuge, fortress, hope, faith, joy, help, strength, power, rest, peace, etc….. We are held in His hands through this life into eternity. No one, (nothing), can separate us from the love of God. He is far greater, more knowing, more powerful, and ever-present than we can imagine.
