Imagine you’re hanging of the side of a cliff… I’m not sure how you got there, but 
there you are dangling high above the ground. Your arms are getting tired, you’re losing your grip, and you’re not sure if you can hold on much longer. Your strength is failing you, so you begin to cry out for help. AT LAST! Someone hears your cries and comes to your rescue. They hold out their hand to pull you up, but instead of taking it, you decide to try to pull yourself up. I will leave it to your imagination to decide how this story ends.
I’ve been in this position many times; no, I have never actually been hanging off a cliff… I have cried out to God asking Him for strength, but instead relying on His strength I still tried to do it on my own. I think I often misunderstand what it means to have God give me strength. He doesn’t give me a spiritual energy drink that magically boosts my strength… He gives me HIS strength… Meaning that my “strength” doesn’t exist anymore.
We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful He has for us.” (Colossians 1:11-12)
God’s strength isn’t an additive to the little bit of strength we have on our own; it’s a replacement. When we are dependent on His strength, we are capable of doing everything that He has for us.
Whether I’m hanging off a cliff or just going on a hike, I am abandoning my strength and taking hold of God’s.
Will you take His hand?
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