Heavenly Strength For Earthly Days
HEAVENLY STRENGTH FOR EARTHLY DAYS
We all have some very long, some very trying, some very exhausting days. As we face weariness, exhaustion and the specter of hopelessness, we find just how powerful, just how merciful, just how faithful is our God. His Presence makes all the difference. As we put one foot in front of another and move from one task to the next, His Holy Spirit often literally picks us up and carries us when we fear we cannot continue. He gives us strength to stand when we can stand no longer in our own strength. His power is sufficient. His care is deep. His Love is sure.
We all have testimonies to share. First, in 1991, while I was serving as Principal at Baptist High School in Jos, Nigeria, a cataclysmic wind storm heavily damaged our campus. The damage was so great we had to send our students home. Even on the first day of this crisis, God raised up Nigerian brothers and sisters who spoke faith into the face of the heavy damage. Our recovery moved along quickly as Christians in Nigeria prayed and gave, as Christians in the U.S., through the International Mission Board provided relief funds, and as government officials in Plateau State did their part. God used His people to intervene, and He was glorified as a much improved Baptist High School campus emerged for all Nigeria to see. Praise God.
Later, the clear emergence of strong Nigerian Christian leadership allowed us to move on from Baptist High School to other missionary tasks. We took up ministry at Hillcrest School, an international Christian school which served missionary and other expatriate families in Jos. Then rioting came to threaten the peace and security of the city, and of our students and teachers at this very prominent school. One year, in particular, had to be creatively fulfilled, missing out on days when particular violence broke out in the city. We had students engaged in teachers’ homes, and in doing take-up learning packets—whatever it took to keep the learning process active. Although we missed many days of school that year, not one person associated with Hillcrest School was harmed in any way as the violence around us arose over and over again. God protected His children.
Later Becky and I moved from Nigeria to Niger to serve our missionary families at Sahel Academy. During our first year there, a historic flood forced everyone to flee the campus, and school continued that year at two satellite buildings, after the heroic effort of the Christian community in Niamey, the capital city. God provided super human strength, a strong sense of unity, and the material resources we need to be fully back in the original campus the following year. God uplifted and strengthened His people to accomplish His monumental task.
Finally, I experienced these past few weeks up close and personal the wrenching after effects of a cataclysmic fall by Becky’s Dad. I watched as her Mom, her sisters, our son and his wife, our daughter and her family, our nephews and their families, and her great nephews and nieces; all of them, as they watched him suffer and gradually slip away. During those three weeks I saw clear evidence of the love of God her Dad had shared with each and every member of the family. I saw the heroic and godly love his wife demonstrated night-after-night as she stayed by his side and spoke comfort, love and faith to him over and over again. I saw every member of the family suffering deeply, yet doing so with assurance and love provided by God, for their husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. I saw what it means to take each step in every long and difficult day by faith, uplifted by the empowering presence of our compassionate and loving God. I know better now than ever before the difference God makes in families who truly love and serve Him.
So, having shared these brief testimonies, I simply want to also share with you God’s Word in particular Bible verses that remind me everyday how great He is, how perfect are His ways, and how faithfully He guides, upholds, protects and loves us, His children, redeemed by the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.
2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV
For God who said,
”Let light shine out of darkness,”
has shone in our hearts
to give the light
of the knowledge
of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ.”
Indeed, Jesus is the heart of God’s Love for us.
Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Surely, every day testifies to the unending
mercies of our God.
John 3:16 ESV
“For God so loved the world,
that he gave his only Son,
that whoever believes in him
should not perish
but have eternal life.”
There can be no doubt,
God loves us so much,
He gave us Jesus.
Romans 5:8 ESV
. . . but God shows his love for us
in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Remarkably, God allowed Christ
to die for us even while we were sinners.
2 Chronicles 20:15 ESV
And he said, “Listen, all Judah
and inhabitants of Jerusalem
and King Jehosophat:
Thus says the LORD to you,,
’Do not be afraid and
do not be dismayed
at this great horde,
for the battle is not yours but God’s.”
When we need God most,
He leads the battle—
victory is His.
John 16:33 ESV
”I have said these things to you, that in me
you may have peace.
In the world you will have tribulation.
But take heart;
I have overcome the world.”
On the most difficult of days,
and throughout the longest, hardest nights,
Jesus is right there close by our side.
Romans 8:37-39
No, in all these things we are more than
conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am convinced that neither death nor life,
neither angels or demons,
neither the present nor the future,
nor any powers,
neither height nor depth,
nor anything else in all creation,
will be able to separate us
from the love of God
that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NOTHING!
Absolutely NOTHING
can separate us
from that love of God
in Jesus our Lord.
All that’s left to say is:
Hallelujah!
Praise the Lord!
Amen!
Thank you, Mike, for sharing those powerful stories of how God continues to show up and provide heavenly strength for our earthly challenges. I’m also grateful for the Biblical truths and verses you shared, which remind us of His unfailing love and constant presence. And a special thanks to Hannatu for passing the link along to me.