Strength. It is glorified in our country where we want to be strong and independent. We look up to atheletes. Gyms are everywhere. It is something we strive after and desire.
As a tomboy, I was wanted to be strong. Anything weak was not for me. I distained weakness. This led to me being fit, in shape, and never admitting if I could not do something.
But as I studied Scripture something began to bother me. What I defined as strength, being independant, muscluar, and never needing to ask for help, was not found in the pages of Scripture. Verses about God, who is undoubtably stronger than me also showed that He was very different from my version of strength.
Slowly, I came to realize that true strength is not what I had. And thus I began a quest to understand true strength.
Truth strength is not physical strength. It goes far beyond that. True strength is not selfish. It is not abusive. It does not need to control others and it definitely is not prideful.
What we define as strength is often independant in a way that tramples others. It does not care for others which leads to so much abuse. It is proud of what it can do and selfish and self serving. It also is typically only on a physical level and never goes deeper.
Let’s explore six elements of true strength
1. True strength is not about muscle mass
True strength is not measured by how much muscle you have, who you can beat, or how fast you can run. True strength is about what is inside of you.
It involves strength of character, spiritual strength, and emotional strength. There is an element of endurance and physical strength but your mindset is more important in determining if you are really strong or not.
2. True strength admits weakness
It is actually stronger to say “I need help. I can’t do this,” than to always prove you can. That is one of the first things I learned about true strength.
I always felt I had to prove that I could do something and it would be weak to ask for help. But it takes great strength to humble yourself and admit when you cannot do something, to reach out and let others help you.
True strength is strong enough to admit weakness. Only the weak try to prove they have no weakness because they are not strong enough to handle what others might think.
3. True strength reccognizes limitations
This goes along with the previous point but true strength knows where they end. They can say “That is beyond my ability.” Or “I am not equipped to do that.” This frees you up to give your all to what you can do and get help when and where you need it.
Often we think to be strong we have to be able to do it all. But the truly strong person knows the limits of their strength and acts within those limits while at the same time challenging them appropriately.
4. True strength controls itself
Strength is about control. But it is not about exerting control over other peopler, rather it is about controlling yourself. We call this self-control.
People may be abusive, lash out in anger, or try to maniuplate others because they need to be in control and being in control makes them feel stronger. But true strength does not need to feel strong, it knows who it is and does not need to put others down or use others.
The truly strong channel their strenght to control themselves and protect others. It takes more strength to protect than to abuse, to stand up for what is right than oppress the weak.
Strength is about control, and the strongest person is the one who controls themselves.
5. True strength thinks about others
True strength protects others because it is other focused. It is not about winning for me, or proving that I am the strongest person in the room, or doing anything for me.
The stronger you are the, the easier it is to step back and let others excel because that does not threaten you.
This goes back to knowing your limitations, knowing who you are and being humble. When you are comfortable with who you are and who God made you to be, no one else is a threat or challenge. Instead, we can reach out to others, serve them, and help them.
Our lives should be other focused and our strength should be spent in serving others. If you want to be strong and viewed as such, start serving others and thinking about them before yourself.
6. True strength relies on God
True strength comes from God. It has to. The strongest man in the world is weaker than God’s weakest point (1 Cor 1:25). Think about that for a sec!
God, at his weakest point or in his weakest moment is stronger that the strongest man at their strongest point. Don’t try to fight with God. You won’t win.
But God strengthens us and His strength can flow through us. Only when you can say with the Psalmist “The Lord is my strength” are you truly strong and “they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength” (Is 40:31).
He gives strength of character, strength of emotion, self-control, humility, and every other aspect of true strength. He never runs out of strenght but ever has more to give us.
We need to rely on Him for that strength.
This touches on the surface of what true strength is. Someday perhaps I’ll write a whole post on each one. But for now, remember true strength is from God and reflects Him. Wait on Him and you will find it.
Which aspect of true strength do you need to work on developing in your life? It might take strength to answer this question ;).