Are You Ready to be Stronger: Strong in the Lord

Little boys love to flex their tiny arm muscles and declare with absolute confidence, "I'm strong!" and it fills me with joy every time I remember my grandson's proud grin when I agreed with him — it amazes me how early that desire to be strong rises up in them.     The truth is we all want to feel strong.     Being strong is even better.   Strong healthy bodies.  Minds.  Emotions.    Psalm 139:14 BSB  I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and I know this very well.   As believers we carry that desire the spiritual realm.   We want to be strong.  While Spiritual strength can't be measured with a tape measure around our biceps, we sense our need to live stronger.    Spiritual strength is measured by  faith under fire;  courage to do what's right when the enemy intimidates;  resilience under pressure and thru weariness;  peace in the storm;  and steadfastness and faithfulness through  pain.   Spiritual strength is measured not by how big you look,  but by how relentless you stand,  where you turn in good times  and tough times,  and how faithfully you endure the storm.   Maybe you are like me and you want to be stronger!   Maybe you're asking, "How?" Ephesians 6:10 Berean Standard Bible Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.   Your strength isn't adequate.  You are not built to handle all life's choices and challenges alone.  You were made for bigger strength than a muscle or a monster truck can muster.   Scripture insists "Be strong in the LORD!"  Access and draw from His strength.      Look at Paul's Words 2 Corinthians 12:10 BSB That is why, for the sake of Christ,  I delight in weaknesses,  in insults,  in hardships,  in persecutions,  in difficulties.    For when I am weak, then I am strong.   Wow! Did you see Paul's "why"? "for the sake of Christ!" That's an important why.      Is it your why?    This verse may sound radical, almost crazy.   But hold on,  let's talk about the storm for a minute.   Jesus told us that storms and tribulations would come, but He said   John 16:33 I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!"   1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!     Stop letting the storm overwhelm you! It is NOT bigger than the God you serve.   Jesus is with you…YES YOU!    Isaiah reminds us "He is with you." Isaiah 41:10 BSB Do not fear,  for I am with you;  do not be afraid,  for I am your God.  I will strengthen you;  I will surely help you;  I will uphold you with  My righteous right hand.     Ask Him to strengthen you.  Stop being afraid of the storm!!!! The wind is not your enemy — it's your trainer. Every time it pushes against you, it is strengthening what's inside you. You were never meant to stay small or fragile.    Like the sunflower,  your stalk was built to flex, not break. Your roots were designed to hold, not slip. And your face was made for the light, not the shadows.   So, when the wind comes,  don't shrink back.  Lean into the strength God has already woven into you.  Stand tall.  Grow higher.  Let the wind teach you what calm days never could.   A miniature version of Earth In the early 1990s, a group of scientists stepped into one of the most ambitious experiments ever attempted. They called it Biosphere 2 — a giant glass‑and‑steel world built in the Arizona desert.    It was designed to be a miniature version of Earth, a place where humans could live in a sealed ecosystem… the kind we might one day need in outer space.   Inside the dome, they created everything: a rainforest, a savanna, a desert, even a tiny ocean.   And of course — trees. Tall, beautiful trees that were supposed to grow strong and healthy in this "perfect" world.   And they did grow. Fast. Faster than trees outside the dome. But then something strange happened.   Before the trees reached maturity, they began to fall over. Perfect soil. Perfect water. Perfect sunlight. No disease. No pests. No drought.   So why were the trees collapsing? After studying the problem, the scientists discovered the missing ingredient: wind.   In the real world, wind pushes trees back and forth. That pressure creates something called stress wood — the strengthened wood that forms only when a tree is challenged. Wind also forces roots to grow deeper and wider, anchoring the tree so it can stand tall.   TELL ME HOW!!!!   Like a SUNFLOWER! A sunflower drinks in the most beautiful way. Its roots stretch deep and wide, acting like tiny straws that pull water and nutrients out of the soil. The moment the soil is wetter than the root, the water naturally moves inward — almost as if the plant is simply thirsty and the water rushes in to satisfy it.    From there, the stem carries that drink upward through little channels, delivering it to every leaf and finally to the flower itself. It's a quiet, constant flow that keeps the whole plant alive and growing.   Get thirsty for more of Jesus! Just like a sunflower is designed to pull water saturated with nutrients from the rich soil, you are designed to access and be nourished by God's strength and power.    That's just what happens when a plant is in good soil.     Your roots are in JESUS Colossians 2:6 BSB Therefore, just as you  have received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to walk in Him,    7 ROOTED and built up in Him, established in the faith  as you were taught,  and overflowing with thankfulness.   Draw strength,  love,  peace.. all that you need from Him.   Draw strength from His Presence God is speaking to Joshua  Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."     Spend time with Jesus!  Get in His Presence.  Worship Him.  Listen to His voice speak to your spirit as you study and mediate on Scripture.    Just because you did that last week, doesn't mean you don't need to get in His Presence again today.    It is daily bread. Sometimes…minute by minute drawing from His nature, listening to His guidance.     Pray. Ask for Strength.   Ephesians 3:16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,   Use your faith...believe God to give you strength!     Declare His Word over yourself or your situation like David did. David is declaring Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I give thanks to Him with my song.     Paul declared in the middle of the storm He stood up in the middle of the boat, while the storm was still blowing and tossing, while it was still raining from a black sky and declared "....It will be just as he said."   Acts 27:25 NLT     Put God's Word in your heart and in your mouth. Revelation 12:11 BSB They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their TESTIMONY. And they did not love their lives so as to shy away from death.     Being Strong is in your DNA  1 Peter 1:23 BSB Berean Standard Bible For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.