In my room hangs a sign that reads, ‘I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to be strong’.

I’m sure most of you have reached a point where you thought you couldn’t go any further. I know I have. I ‘m sure a lot of you sank to the bottom where no strength laid. Did you dig for that last bit of strength in your body?  Did you notice that little flicker of light shining through the cracks?

I have come to realize the last bit of strength isn’t in your body, it’s in your soul. Your body may be broken; not a thread of strength left. I saw my mom fight, I saw her fight with all her strength . . . to live. Her body was poor, out of strength, but her soul fought.

Philippians 4:13 says, ‘I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength.’

Freddy Steinmark. A college football player. A few days after he plaid against the Arkansas Razorbacks in 1969 they spotted a tumor in his leg. When he played that game there is no doubt he felt pain in his leg. We can imagine his leg was ready to give out, but his soul wasn’t. I am 80% sure he didn’t play that game with his body’s strength, he played with his soul’s strength.

Psalm 138:3,  . . .Thou  . . . strengthens with strength in my soul.

When we ask for strength–in my experience–God gives us difficulties. When we’re down and out of breath, I have found, it’s not our body that fights, it’s our soul. It’s the strength God gives us when we realize we are not in this alone. We are not relying on our own strength, but on the strength that comes from God.

At the bottom of the sign it reads, ‘I received nothing I wanted, but everything I needed.’