{"id":1645,"date":"2012-06-04T11:13:23","date_gmt":"2012-06-04T15:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/beyondgorgeous\/?p=1645"},"modified":"2012-06-04T11:13:23","modified_gmt":"2012-06-04T15:13:23","slug":"heres-how-to-be-strong-even-when-you-feel-weak","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondgorgeous\/2012\/06\/heres-how-to-be-strong-even-when-you-feel-weak.html","title":{"rendered":"Here’s How to be Strong — Even When You Feel Weak"},"content":{"rendered":"

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.\u00a0 II Cor. 12:9<\/em><\/p>\n

I sometimes find myself thinking that I have to be strong or that God won\u2019t be pleased with me.\u00a0 If I don\u2019t have willpower to eat right\u00a0 and keep working out — then the added weight is both a punishment and a placard I\u2019m wearing on my back, declaring my failure.<\/p>\n

But that isn\u2019t the heart of the God we meet in the Bible.\u00a0 The true and living God knows what it feels like to be hungry — because He fasted for 40 days in the wilderness. When He was \u201cafterwards ahungered\u201d he was REALLY starving. (Matt. 4:2)<\/p>\n

He, who made us, knows exactly how our body is working. Though we can\u2019t see the hormonal messages and the effects of different foods we eat, He does.\u00a0 He knows what is holding us back and tripping us up. (Ps. 139:14)<\/p>\n

He also knows our weaknesses.\u00a0 And He cares about the things that concern us. (Ps. 103:13-14)<\/p>\n

He isn\u2019t a God who demands perfection from His children and doles out shame and punishment if they fall short.\u00a0 He is a loving father who is ready to pick us up and carry us when we are tired and feeble. (I Peter 5:7)<\/p>\n

The best news of all is that He is okay with our weakness.\u00a0 In fact, He often allows us to have frail spots in order to show His strength.\u00a0 When our situation seems impossible, that\u2019s the best opportunity to show the power of God by relying on Him.<\/p>\n

A final note though.\u00a0 These promises aren\u2019t for everyone.\u00a0 They are for His children.\u00a0 If you aren\u2019t sure you belong to His family,\u00a0Click here to see my message about God.<\/a><\/p>\n

Today I\u2019m resolving to call on Him for help over the rough spots in my journey to a place of strength and health in my life.\u00a0 I hope you are able to do the same.\u00a0 His grace is sufficient!<\/p>\n

Eating to live and living for Christ,<\/p>\n

Susan Jordan Brown<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.\u00a0 II Cor. 12:9 I sometimes find myself thinking that I have to be strong or that God won\u2019t be pleased with me.\u00a0 If I don\u2019t have willpower to eat right\u00a0 and keep working out — then…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":423,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[68,1],"tags":[483,482,481,480],"class_list":["post-1645","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-encouragement","category-uncategorized","tag-father","tag-gods-grace","tag-strength","tag-weakness"],"yoast_head":"\nHere's How to be Strong - Even When You Feel Weak - Beyond Gorgeous<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/beyondgorgeous\/2012\/06\/heres-how-to-be-strong-even-when-you-feel-weak.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Here's How to be Strong - 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