Last last night or early this morning, depending on how you look at it, I received a text from my oldest daughter at 12:54 a.m. She was in the next room. It said, “Love you…stay strong.” She went on to add a few other things which are funny but I won’t add them to this entry.
My response? “I love you. I am strong.”
And I am. I am strong.
This phrase got inside my head and has been there all morning.
I am strong. Seems self-promoting at first which is not the intent. But as I began to apply that phrase to different situations in my own life I also began to realize it is an acceptance of the strength we have inside now, not later, now. An internal strength which we so often overlook and do not take advantage of.
I am strong can be applied to any situation.
A person mourning the loss of a family member. I am strong.
A father or mother adjusting to the loss of a job. I am strong.
A person battling against a medical challenge. I am strong.
A person overcoming an addiction or mental challenge. I am strong.
A husband and wife on the edge of family disintegration. I am strong.
A college graduate looking for direction in the job market. I am strong.
In fact, the following is from a very bright young woman who recently graduated from nursing school. This was posted on Facebook just this morning. It read, “Whoever said it would be easy to find a job right after graduation lied…and I would like to punch them in the face.” I love that. I am strong.
A pastor at the moment looking for his next God assignment. Also on Facebook. It read, “2011 reminded me that God is still in control, no matter what situation I am in. It is up to me to believe that He will see me through it.” I am strong.
There are so many examples I could use and may in another entry. Why are we strong? Here’s why.
“I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ’s sake; for when I am WEAK, then I AM STRONG.”
I would encourage you to write down or say to yourself specific challenges or obstacles in your life, hardships that you can not overcome on your own. And after you write down or say each one, end that problem or challenge with these words, “I am strong.”
God already knows you are. He made you that way. And just you reminding yourself that you are strong in Him will be just what you need to continue the battle and meet the challenge.
I am strong.
JHH
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