Strong For It | Qualities of Women Who Trust Jesus
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” — Psalm 27:14
“God’s not listening.”
“This is all fake.”
“You’re crazy for thinking any of this could be true.”
Out of nowhere, the thoughts would sneak up. Driving my car, talking to a friend or even while trying to sing during Sunday morning worship— it felt like there was no relief from the voice of doubt in my head. It was an ambush. And I was exhausted.
This trial was beating me up and I didn’t know if I was strong enough for it.
Eventually I got up the courage to talk to my pastor, and he helped me make a connection I hadn’t seen before. At the time, I had been asking God to fulfill a deeply-rooted desire. The onslaught of unbelieving thoughts had come while I was still waiting for an answer. It didn’t cross my mind that my daily struggle with doubt and this single unanswered prayer could be related. But looking back at it all these years later, the connection is crystal clear.
Waiting on God is hard. Painful even. It wears us down and hardens us up. It empties us of resolve and fills us with resentment. It seems to mute God’s voice while cranking up the volume on everything else. But, Sister, it doesn’t have to be this way.
Like usual, God works in backward, upside down, inside-out ways. With him, we actually grow stronger, more capable, more trusting during the season of waiting.
For the woman who trusts Jesus, her strength does not reduce as she waits, it becomes renewed (Isaiah 40:31).
It’s God— our loving, competent Father— who does the renewing inside us. In other words, we can’t make our own hearts strong enough to handle the waiting. At first glance, we might assume that’s what Psalm 27:14 is requiring of us, to buckle down and do it ourselves.
Be strong … take heart…
Maybe the old-school King James Version can help us out here. It translates the passage this way, “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage and he shall strengthen thine heart” (emphasis mine).
Isn’t that beautiful? Talk to him, Sister. Let him remind you that his goodness can be trusted. Give him the desires of your heart and believe that he will strengthen you in the meantime.
The word “strengthen” in this verse means to fortify or to make obstinate. Like the palm tree withstanding fierce winds, our roots dig deep into God’s word. He uses seasons of waiting in our lives to infuse us with a holy stubbornness. We’re made firm and steadfast in the process, no longer swayed by internal voices that oppose God. We go back— over and over again— to his word to hear his voice and to be strengthened by it.
What is God requiring of you in this season of your life? What is he asking of you?
For the ordinary stuff, the crisis, the task at hand, the deadline— you have already been made strong for it all. Receive the strength that he offers you today. Sit in the quietness and open your heart. Think deeply about the words he’s written to you and accept the role he’s assigned to you. You may not see it now, but he’s made you strong for it.
For Your Journal
Find It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a Bible verse. You can find a verse that fits a current life situation or use the one we used in today’s devotion.
“Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” — Psalm 27:14
Fix It:
In this portion of your journal, pull out a few key words from the verse you chose above, or summarize the verse in your own words. Write it in pretty lettering or sketch something that will help you visualize the meaning of the verse and fix it in your mind. Repeat these words to yourself throughout the week to remind you of the truth contained in the scripture. Here are some options:
Strong For It
Take Heart
My strength is not reduced in the waiting, it’s renewed!
Feel It:
In this portion of your journal, write out a prayer. The goal is to absorb the meaning of the Bible passage and let it take root in your heart. Ask the Lord to let his word change you by the power of his Spirit. Surrender any areas of your life that you are trying to control.
God, you often do things differently than I expect, and I praise you for it. It doesn’t seem possible that you could increase my strength while I’m waiting on you, but I believe you can and you will. Thank you for working in ways that are beyond what’s possible in the natural. Help me face this season with faith, believing that in you, I’m strong enough for it. In Jesus’ name, amen.