Be Strong!

Hey friends! I pray that you all have read my recent postings covering the book of Matthew. If you haven’t just yet, I encourage you to read the chapter in your Bible and compile your own reflective points prior to reading my summary/reflective points. Leave a comment if you receive any revelations from your readings. I will be happy for you to share them with me! Now let’s talk!

Approximately two months ago, my father experienced a recurrent syncopal episode which raised concerns so I proceeded to have him evaluated. On my way to meet him at his follow-up doctor’s appointment where we would receive his testing results, I began to become nervous and fearful. I attempted to pray my emotions away because I initially processed them as an attack on my faith. But God began to deal with me in that very moment regarding my misinterpretation of my emotions. He explained that I am human, and therefore, I cannot “escape that human experience”. When facing the unknown, it is normal to experience many emotions, but it is our response to those emotions that truly matters. We, as believers, are charged in those moments to acknowledge our emotions, process them, invite God into that space, seek guidance, and respond appropriately. This is where a lot of us miss the mark though; instead, we acknowledge our emotions, validate them as real and true, and respond however we FEEL is appropriate. I am becoming more emotionally mature, and the description of this moment attests to that. Although I was nervous and fearful, I did not desire for those emotions to overwhelm me or drive my response. I felt relieved that God had provided clarity in that moment. So after arriving at the doctor’s office, I sat in the car to gather myself when I heard Him whisper, “Be strong and courageous”. Immediately I thought, “now God, the Bible says in my weakness, You are made strong so what do You mean I need to be strong? You’re the strong one, right?” But in hindsight, God was preparing me!! He did not allow me to be blindsighted with the results. Although I did not know them at that time, I assumed that they would not be good from His words. As we received the results, I felt the tears swelling up as I looked to my father who appeared so disappointed and sad. I remembered God’s words, contained myself, and listened attentively to the NP. My father looked to me to be his pillar of strength in that moment, and I was able to provide a beacon of hope to him as I expressed my faith in my Heavenly Father’s ability to heal.

Deuteronomy chapter 31 verse six states, “So be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you”. Joshua chapter one verse nine states, “This is my command—be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”. When God whispered, “Be strong and courageous” to me, He was reminding me that He had gone before me, was with me, and would never leave me. He was reiterating my safety in Him and exalting His power over the fleeting emotions that I was feeling. God is saying that very thing to you today! Be strong and courageous no matter what situations are surrounding you, no matter what battles are coming up against me, no matter the circumstances you are facing in your life, no matter what is taking place in the world, no matter if you are feeling certain emotions, no matter what… GOD IS WITH ME and His Spirit dwells within me! Be encouraged! Be empowered! Be strong and courageous!