I pulled the onesie over my baby’s head. As I tugged it down and connected the snaps, I read the words across his tiny chest: Be Strong. How ironic to see those words resting on the body of my infant — not even eight pounds, barely able to hold his head up, and completely reliant on me to sustain his life.
The words brought to mind one of my favorite verses “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). I looked at my son’s tiny, weak, helpless body, and, at that moment, I had a better understanding of what it means to be strong and courageous.
“He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” (Isaiah 40:29)
When we are small and weak, we are strong. Courageously admitting our weakness, we trust in God’s strength to carry us. We reach out for help when struggles threaten to overwhelm.
Weakness doesn’t have to be a flaw; instead, it can be a beautiful opportunity, allowing someone else to love and serve like Jesus.
When we accept how tiny we are, we are better able to see God’s greatness at work as He places people in our lives to lift us up.
“Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!” (1 Chronicles 16:11)
When we find ourselves barely able to lift our heads, we are strong. It is then we seek the Lord and His strength. Our hearts search for His love, forgiveness, and wisdom.
In the presence of our Lord, we sense our lack of control and are compelled to seek Him, surrendering to His will.
“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2)
When we accept our helpless situation, we are strong. It is then we recognize our desperate need for a savior to sustain us. And so we confess our sins, admit we’re wrong, and rely on our Savior for redemption. He alone can sustain our life through eternity. We cannot rely on our own strength for salvation, but instead, through faith, by grace, we rely on Christ’s death and resurrection. At His weakest moment, hanging on a cross, we were given the strength of salvation.