The Secret Power of Strength

We all need strength to live our lives. Living life requires we have some sort of stamina to accomplish just normal stuff like going to work, driving children to their extra-curricular activities, cooking, cleaning, and exercising. Even playing requires stamina. There are times in life, however, when we need an increased measure of energy. Some seasons of life throw great challenges at us. During these times we may find ourselves feeling weak, unable to cope with the added burdens. How do we get the strength we need to endure these times? Well, I have discovered the secret power of obtaining this strength.

Before I share this story, I need you to know this truly was one of my most difficult years. I’m not going to elaborate on all the intense details of all the trials I faced that year. Rather I’m going to provide a big picture view for you because I believe you’ll gain value from knowing just enough to understand both the message and the practical application I’m going to recommend.

Six years ago this month, I experienced a challenging season of life. A new year had begun. I always have great expectations a new year will provide renewed hope. 2011 was no different even though it brought some lingering problems from the previous year. I knew going into 2011, it would begin with challenges. I didn’t know there would be so many intense challenges.

Unfortunately, it didn’t take long for life to start throwing its heavy rocks my way.

Amyloidosis

In 2008, my husband was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder called Amyloidosis. He endured a stem cell transplant at Mayo Clinic in November 2008. The treatment was successful in what it was intended to do: put him in remission. Always the hope was more, but two years later, test results indicated he should be treated again. This time with experimental chemotherapy treatments. There’s no known cure for Amyloidosis or the damage it causes to vital organs. The hope was that these experimental treatments may help Bob get better and it would provide research data for better understanding how to help people with this rare disease. Bob’s treatment began in January 2011. The entire year my husband endured weekly chemotherapy. My heart broke for him.

Cancer

On January 26, 2011, one day after my mom’s birthday, she received test results from a biopsy. She had breast cancer. Being in her early 80’s, we knew this was going to be challenging. Thankfully, she didn’t have to have chemo, but she did endure many other procedures, including surgery to move her pace maker so she could have radiation. My heart broke for my mom.

Around this same time, my sweet sister-in-law, Brittany, told me she was waiting to hear if she had cancer. Because Brittany and I both married into the Barringer family, we became friends. Over the years even though she lived in California and I lived in Minnesota, we shared many life experiences with one another through emails, letters, and phone calls. She was a close friend and mentor to me.

In early February 2011, Brittany was told she not only had cancer, but the worst kind of cancer: lung cancer. She too endured major chemotherapy treatments that year along with various other medical procedures. My heart broke for her.

Relationship

At the end of 2010, my oldest daughter informed us that she was secretly dating a Muslim boy. This relationship continued through half of 2011. While I recognize others may not understand the worry this caused me, I felt incredibly scared and concerned on many levels. She had turned 18 at the end of 2010. There was nothing I could do to prevent her from dating someone I truly believed was wrong for her. This mommy’s heart broke, and I felt weak.

Graduate School

Meanwhile, I was working full time and attending graduate school. January 2011 was my second semester. While I was in sync with studying by this time, the added workload began to challenge me. Yet, I knew deep in my heart, I was to continue pursuing my master’s degree. One day, a close friend actually asked me what I was doing. Not knowing exactly what she meant by her question, I ask for clarity. She gave it to me. She didn’t understand why I would continue going to graduate school when clearly I had so many huge trials in my life. I simply answered, “Because God opened the door for me and He hasn’t closed it yet.”

I didn’t expect her to understand my answer. She didn’t need to understand. I needed to understand. God had a plan for me and while He may not require this of others, He did of me during all of these life challenges going on simultaneously.

Secret Power of Strength

January 2011 was intimidating me. Every morning that month when my alarm went off, I would cringe just thinking about getting up and opening my bedroom door. By the end of that month, I knew each new day would bring announcement of yet another major trial for me to face. Within one month, I began to sense a huge need. I knew I needed strength, but I didn’t know how I would get it.

I don’t recall the exact date, but I know it was at the end of January when I received the secret power of strength.

One morning when my alarm went off, I reached over to turn it off. Then rolled back onto my bed. I just laid there flat on my back. And I actually said out loud, “Lord, I don’t want to get up. I don’t want to open my bedroom door. I can’t handle one more bad thing. I can’t handle this.”

I was silent for a moment. Truly, I wasn’t even making an effort to get up. I felt numbly weak. Then I heard these words enter my soul, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

A little dazed, I slowly became aware God may be speaking to me.

Then I heard again, “The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

And there it was. My answer. I needed strength to endure. And all of a sudden I understood His message.

I said out loud, “Lord, you know I need strength. Your Word says, the joy of the Lord is my strength. So I guess you’re revealing to me I need some joy. Will you give me your joy just for today so that I have enough strength to get through today?”

I heard a whisper, but a strong “Yes!”

So I got up and at the end of that day, I collapsed into bed exhausted. Right before I went to sleep I remember saying, “Thank you for giving me strength for just today.”

Practical Application

From that day on and every day of 2011 before my feet hit the floor, I’d pray a very simple request, “Lord, I need strength for just today. Please fill me with your joy.” And then I’d get up.

Every day that year was challenging. Every day I’d start my day with that request for joy because I needed strength, a lot of strength. The trials were difficult and many. But every day when I’d fall into bed, I’d realize I had been given enough strength to live that day.

I knew God was answering my daily prayer with a “Yes.” What I didn’t realize was what else He was doing in me until well into 2011.

One day at work I had my annual performance review. Don’t we all love those? I admit. I was a little nervous. Although I have a high work ethic, I wasn’t convinced I’d done my best.

My supervisor at the time started our conversation in a surprising way. He looked directly at me and said, “Michelle, I’ve been amazed at how joyful you’ve been every day this year. Given all you are going through, I’m so impressed with how joyful you are every day. It’s amazing! You’ve blessed me with your joy.”

Wow! I had no idea all those months that not only was God giving me strength for each day, which was my need, He was filling me with joy each day. I didn’t realize until my supervisor said it that God’s secret power to strength is joy. Not only did I have strength enough for each day, but I was joyful too.

So, the moral of my story is this. No matter what you are facing, you need strength, but others need your joy. Even if it’s to clean your sock drawer, hold a baby during the night hours, or start a new adventure. We all need strength for the little and for the big challenges in our life. We all need joy.

As we start another new year, my practical application for you to try is this:

Before your feet hit the floor each morning, pray for the joy of the Lord to fill you. Discover the secret power of strength.

May 2017 be the year where we all have more joy and more strength.