"Forsake Me Not When My Strength is Spent"

Definition of STRENGTH

1

: the quality or state of being strong : capacity for exertion or endurance

2

: power to resist force : solidity, toughness

3

: power of resisting attack : impregnability

4

a : legal, logical, or moral force b : a strong attribute or inherent asset <the strengths and the weaknesses of the book are evident>

Sometimes I just feel so exhausted, as if i'm lying on the shore, bruised and battered after the tidal waves of life have pulled and pushed me in every direction and then slammed me to the ground without warning. Early in my life, I HAD to be strong. After my dad passed away from cancer I had to be strong for my mom, for my siblings (even though all 4 of them are older than me). It wasn't a "i was their solid rock" kind of deal, it was more of a quiet strength, that I was the "normal" one who was the youngest and who wouldn't understand, so for everyone else's sake, I had to be normal, had to be strong. Dad was the family's rock, and now in a way, I had to be some sort of symbol of steadiness and noramility while everything around me was crumbling. That wasn't difficult for me, I had always been a closed off, internal person wanting the best for others and doing whatever I can to serve them anyways. But the Lord works in amazing ways, eventually the strength that I "had" to have, I now wanted and joyfully accepted my role as a steady rock in many people's lives. But I had finally realized the lesson God had been whispering in my ear: I AM your rock. You are not anyone's rock, your dad was no one's rock, I AM the rock and refuge, rely on me and lead others to me. Even still...there are many times where I feel weak and inadaquate to do anything, yet there are ample opportunities to serve and glorify the Lord. But what about when my strength is spent? Call on the Lord, He knows your limits, He knows right where He needs to step in, when you've reached your limit...but do you? Do we really know when to stop, throw our hands up and say "here God...take it...I can't handle it anymore". Well, truth be told, that should have happened a looooong time ago before the now "to hard to handle" situation even started. It is a daily decision to lay down yourself, call on the Lord for strength, joy...etc. and to commit to glorifying Him no matter what. First though, to call on Him in such a way with the true power of the Lord, we must be intimate with God first, how can we call on One we do not trust? We must be intimate with God, trusting in Him, walking in a striving relationship with Him, in His Word, in prayer. One of my favorite passages is Psalm 71. I love the title "Forsake Me Not When My Strength is Spent", how fitting?! When we have nothing to give, no words to say, no actions to perform, no strength left, let's call on the Lord for HIS words, HIS actions, HIS strength...but wouldn't it be great if we asked Him for that BEFORE we get ourselves run down to the ground? I'm as stubborn as I'll get out, but fully realize, this life cannot be lived on your own. God is ALWAYS there, and ALWAYS greater than any situation and He even blesses us by bringing others up around us to encourage us and lift us up. How great and incredible is our God? pretty darn...  :)

Psalm 70:4 "May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, "Our God is great!"


By the way, Psalm 71 is in the favorite passages section right there -->
READ IT! ALL OF IT! :)