For years, I have prided myself on being the strong one. When faced with challenges, I love coming out on top. Time and time again, being strong means I am capable.
For years, I have looked at my dad as the strongest man I know. He has a quiet strength that encompasses who he is without any fanfare. I see my dad as always being present, able to conquer life and land on his feet, and a man who embodies everything I want to be when I grow up.
But I am learning, that being strong is not always a physical attribute, but a heart and soul characteristic. Being told we are strong, by those who love us or who observe us from the outside, happens because they perceive us as having it all together. But God teaches us the truth in His word. When we are weak, we are made strong and we can do everything through Christ who gives us strength. We take ownership of this truth when we acknowledge that it is God’s strength that has brought us to where we are today.
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These past few days have shown me again the beauty of God’s strength. A moment in time that gives you a glimpse of how fragile life really is reinforces that even in weakness there is strength. My dad is living this example right now. After falling and fracturing his hip a few days ago, I have witnessed the beauty of what strength really looks like.
I watch my dad, the strongest man I know, lying still in a hospital bed after surgery to repair the fractured hip. I see the same glimmer in his eyes and the same sharp mind that characterizes my dad. I watch a weak body hurting from pain, but one that is also so strong because he has let go of this weakness to make room for God’s strength.
My dad is strong because He allows God to cover his weakness with His strength. I am always learning from my earthly dad. The beauty in this current lesson is how his example points the way directly to our Heavenly dad. When we are faced with trials, we turn to God for our strength. He will guide is in the ways we need to go.
I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Phil. 4:12-13 NLT
My prayer today for myself and for you is that we admit when we are weak. It does not mean we are not capable. Instead, we are showing we are vulnerable and willing to accept help. May we remember our strength is in God and He gladly takes our weakness and lovingly replaces it with His strength.
We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. 2 Cor. 13:9
With God’s strength, we can accept our weaknesses and make the space for His strength.
Mary
Joining the beautiful community at GIVE ME GRACE
Been thinking of you and your dad. Also praying for him as well. Love ya friend!
Thank you! Continued prayers would be so appreciated!
You are blessed with such an amazing Dad, Mary. This is a beautiful tribute describing a very special man. Praying for his healing, my friend. Please let me know if you need anything. Much love to you both!
I am indeed blessed with an amazing dad. Thank you for your kind words and prayers! This community is such a blessing to me and I love that you are part of it.
I’m so sorry about your dad, Mary. But what a blessing to have a dad who gives such an example of allowing God to cover his weakness with His strength. I hope and pray God will give healing to your dad and will help all of us to let go of all the strength we hang onto in ourselves and rest in God’s strength alone. Thank you for reminding me today to quit trying to be so strong, accept my weaknesses, and allow God’s strength to take over.
By ourselves we truly are weak and unable to do move ahead effectively. With God, we are strong and certain because He provides us with all we need. I really do have an amazing dad. He is always pointing to God and never to himself because he knows where his hope is found.
Thank you for your kind words and prayers. They are making a difference. Blessings on your week!
Hi Mary! God bless your Dad and bring him is healing grace. And His peace to you and your family too. It is hard to see people we think of as so strong, be weak, no matter the reason. It can be scary.
But you see only the room for God to shine through your Dad and the situation too. That takes great faith, and my friend, you have it. What an inspiration for all of us who hope to see that kind of joy in sorrow. Thank you for sharing your life, and your faith. It gives me hope for my own.
Blessings,
Ceil
Thank you for your encouragement today, Ceil! Going through this with my dad feels like a roller coaster ride some days and it is hard to see the man you admire the most struggling. My faith is only as strong as I let God enter into those hard places and fill me with His strength.
It is all God’s doing because left on my own, I am weak and uncertain. Praying your week is blessed and filled with many God moments.
It’s interesting that you are talking about this today, Mary because I have a private FB marriage prayer group and this is the theme for our week–letting God have our weaknesses so He can be strong through them. Thanks for this timely reminder, my friend! And so sorry to hear that your dad fractured his hip. I’ll pray for him to have a quick and thorough recovery, my friend!
I am glad God’s timing in these words connects with your FB group. I believe God loves to give us a lot of reminders either with words we need to hear or to affirm what we are studying.
Thank you for the prayers. They mean a lot. Blessings on your week!
I’m so sorry about your dad, Mary. I will be remembering him in prayer, for a speedy and complete recovery. How wonderful that God is teaching you, even in this, beautiful truths from His word. So thankful that your earthly father is a shining example. And you are, too ! Blessings on your Sabbath.
Your prayers mean so much. I am blessed over and over by this beautiful online community. As for my dad, he truly is who I want to be when I grow up. He lives a life that is true to God and who he is.
Praying you have a blessed week!
Mary, it’s inspiring to hear how your father is reacting to his fall and subsequent surgery. When we place our faith in God’s ability to be strong on our behalf, He is always faithful to perform. I can testify to strength made manifest in weakness and how our vulnerability paves the way for the Lord to reveal His great ability to live and shine through weak and wounded people. May He be your strength too as you confide your concerns to Him. Praying for you and your father at this challenging time. Rest in the Lord, my friend. He won’t let you down. Blessings and hugs. Xx
I feel like I am bragging on my dad but this is just who he is. My dad teaches me life lessons everyday and lives a life that honors God. I appreciate the prayers and your words of affirmation when it comes to God’s faithfulness. We are blessed by a God who treasures our weaknesses and wants to makes us strong. Praying you have a blessed week, Joy!
Mary, praying for your dad. May God bring him a speedy recovery & continue to keep him strong in Him. Beautiful reflection to read this morning!
Your prayers are such a gift Joanne! I know you understand what it is like to see our parents age and the strength that we always looked to from them, when we were younger, changing over time. Thank you for taking the time to be here and bless me with your time and prayers.
Mary,
I’m so sorry about your dad’s fall. We are at that age where our parents are no longer the towers of physical strength they once were. I’m so thankful your dad has inner strength as well and is not too prideful to admit his weakness and rely on God’s strength. His testimony is a powerful message – one we all need to hear and see. Praying that God will enable you to be weak, as well, so that He will be strong and will ultimately receive the glory. Praying for all of you sweet friend!
Blessings and ((hugs)),
Bev
Your words really spoke to me this morning. The fact that you are praying that I am weak so I may receive God’s strength is very powerful to me. I have never looked at it quite that way. I know I am weak but honestly I try to avoid weakness as much as I can. Your words remind to to release myself of myself so God can fill me with all I need.
Thank you for blessing me this morning and filling me with sweet encouragement that filled my heart and soul. Blessings!
Prayers for your dad, Mary. What a beautiful picture you have given us of relying on God for strength. Much love to you, friend. xoxo
It is through God’s strength that any of us make it through each day. I am learning this lesson over and over again. Thank you for the prayers for my dad and for reminding me with your comment that through God’s strength all things are possible. Blessings!
So sorry for your dad. I’d seen the picture on Facebook. What a blessing that He knows the Lord and has been such a good father. May God pour out abundant grace and strength to you. I can imagine the last days have been difficult.
Thank you for your prayers and for being here. I am blessed by this beautiful community who loves to take care of their own. God is present in every moment and even though I miss Him at times when I am feeling overwhelmed, the reminder always comes back even stronger. God is a good, good father!