Finding Strength in the Midst of Adversity
No matter whether it is divorce, the sudden loss of a loved one, financial difficulties or the total breakdown of a family, if you live on planet earth, you go through hard times. If I may quote a preacher I know, He said. “Tough times never last but tough people do.” This is so true. But how do you be tough and endure when you are at the end of your rope? How do you find strength when your very soul has been tapped?
I have found a few things that help in this. I still go through struggles, but so far I have found strength to get through the loss of my dad, the failure of my marriage, and my children disowning me. My children are all now back in good relationship with me, the loss of ministry due to divorce has now been restored, and the sense of loss from my father’s passing is over. How did I get through these storms?
1. I could not have done it without other people. Shortly after suffering the tragedy of divorce, I lost all but 3 friends. It was not a nice and tidy divorce. I felt all alone. I was at the end of my strength. If it wasn’t for a Southern Baptist pastor who reached out to a broken and failed Pentecostal pastor, I am not sure where I would be. He took me under his wing and shared with me how much grace God really had towards me. He literally changed the direction of my life.
2. I could not have done it without my mother. My mom has always been my greatest fan. If it wasn’t for her calling me a couple times a week checking up on me and encouraging me, I again don’t know where I would be. The word encourage means to pour courage into something. She poured courage into me and helped me to walk where I had never walked before. She gave me great strength.
3. The love of my Savior gave me strength. You really do not understand how much He really loves you until you are at rock bottom and believe you are unloveable. I remember driving in my truck between Elko Nevada and Salt Lake City Utah. I was at rock bottom and I remember His still small voice speaking to me and saying. “How much do I love you Duke?” I answered out of my head knowledge. “You love me unconditionally Lord.” He answered and said “Why then do you hate what I love?” The experience was an epiphany for me! It gave me the strength to go on, to continue to walk, to not give up my dream. And today, I am living proof that you can get to the other side and succeed.
Finally I have a list of bible verses that have encouraged me over the years. These bible verses on strength, kept me focused on who is the strength giver. I have an article on my blog that has these 10 verses. I encourage (pour courage into) you to come and read these verses for yourself. Print them out, and give them away. It might just be the thing that changes the course of your life.
Now that is something to think about!
Pastor Duke is the Author of the up and coming premier Christian blog called Taber’s Truths. He has over 90 articles that will encourage you spiritually and emotionally. He has over 500 people that daily visit his blog just to read the latest article and use his writings as a source of strength for their daily lives.
My Top 10 Bible Verses about Strength
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