Heroines of old always fainted.
No wonder, those whalebone corsets cinched around their waists gave them little stamina.
A little stress, a little illness, and they fainted.
They even invented these cool lounging couches, called fainting couches, to catch the distressed damsels.
The Bible talks about such weak people, too, but their weakness doesn’t come from vanity. There is nothing glamorous about sinking in weakness as a believer, when the trials of life are cinched around your ribs.
“If you faint in adversity,
your strength is small.”
The Lord loves us enough to be honest. He doesn’t patronize us with, “It’s OK, I’ll always love you,” even though He will always love us.
He doesn’t downplay our downfall and make excuses because of our weak flesh, even though He knows our flesh is weak is He had to provide the Holy Spirit and His Holy Word to help us endure life on earth.
He tells us plainly, “your strength is small.”
We eventually realize the strength we were using wasn’t His, it was ours. We use our personal fortitude, our personality, our network of friends and even diversions to endure trials.
But, when we faint, when we falter, when we don’t have enough faith to see the light at the end of the tunnel, we have to stand before Him and admit, “Lord, my strength is so small.”
Not until we admit our weakness, can we get strength from the Lord.
2 Corinthians 12:10
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities,
in reproaches, in necessities,
n persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:
for when I am weak, then am I strong.
CONDITION OF BELIEVER STRONG IN SELF
AND WEAK IN LORD
DRIED UP – Psalms 22:15, “My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And My tongue clings to My jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.”
GRIEF, WEAK – Psalms 31:10, “For my life is spent with grief, And my years with sighing; My strength fails because of my iniquity, And my bones waste away.”
CONDITIONS OF BELIEVERS STRONG IN LORD
BUT WEAK IN SELF
NO FEAR: Psalms 27:1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
TRUST, JOY and SINGING: Psalms 28:7, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise Him.”
COMPLETE/PERFECT: Psalms 18:32, “It is God that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect/complete.”
PEACE: Psalms 29:11, “The LORD will give strength unto His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace.”
Don’t Faint!
Use the strength He is offering.
I like how you contrasted the difference between our strength and strength from the Lord. So true. I am a new follower from Spiritual Sundays. Thank you for this insightful post.
I like how you contrasted the difference between our strength and strength from the Lord. So true. I am a new follower from Spiritual Sundays. Thank you for this insightful post.
So true. Our strength is in the Lord. No doubt about it. I had to smile when reading the opening lines of this post. I wasn't around in those whale bone corset days but I well remember those terrible girdles in the 50s and 60s. I was so glad when they went out of style.Thank you for sharing this insightful post.Blessings,Charlotte
So true. Our strength is in the Lord. No doubt about it. I had to smile when reading the opening lines of this post. I wasn't around in those whale bone corset days but I well remember those terrible girdles in the 50s and 60s. I was so glad when they went out of style.Thank you for sharing this insightful post.Blessings,Charlotte
What an encouraging post, as we all experience trials of many kind!
What an encouraging post, as we all experience trials of many kind!
Lovely post-and congrats on your recent medical results. 🙂 How wonderful!
Lovely post-and congrats on your recent medical results. 🙂 How wonderful!
this post is great…don't faint…be strong….in Him. Thanks. ☺
this post is great…don't faint…be strong….in Him. Thanks. ☺
Thank-you for these verses for the trials in our life. Sometimes it's hard to find the perfect scripture.Blessings,Ginger
Thank-you for these verses for the trials in our life. Sometimes it's hard to find the perfect scripture.Blessings,Ginger
Beautiful verses and words. Thanks.
Beautiful verses and words. Thanks.