He Gives the Strength

From: More Heart to Heart: Godly Wisdom Woman To Woman By: Valerie Jean Hallowell

• 2 min. read • grade level: 6

“To them that have no might He increaseth strength.” Isaiah 40:29²⁹He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. (Isaiah 40:29)

“My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9⁹And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

“Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.” Proverbs 16:3³Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. (Proverbs 16:3)

Some of the things that God asks of us are easier said than done. His standard is so high! “Love ... as I have loved you” (John 15:12¹²This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. (John 15:12)). “Submit ... as unto the Lord” (Eph. 5:22²²Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. (Ephesians 5:22)). “Reverence [your] husband” (Eph. 5:33³³Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5:33)). “In everything give thanks” (1 Thess. 5:18). Forgive “as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you” (Eph. 4:32³²And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. (Ephesians 4:32)).

God does not ask us to do these things in our own strength. He gives us all the love, wisdom, and strength that we need to be a good wife. He does not give us any room to cop out; instead He gives us more grace (James 4:6⁶But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6)). God would not have set up this pattern if He didn’t know it was best for us. “If ye keep My commandments, ye shall abide in My love....These things I have spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full” (John 15:10-11¹⁰If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. ¹¹These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:10‑11)). “If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them” (John 13:17¹⁷If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (John 13:17)). The happiness is a promise.

Here’s another promise that’s really important: “Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established” (Prov. 16:3³Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established. (Proverbs 16:3) Emphasis added). The unconditional love, obedience, submission, respect, thanksgiving, and forgiveness that God asks of us are all acts of the will, not emotions. Love in a marriage does not get its source from hormones or emotional feelings. Notice that 1 Corinthians 13 describes specific acts, not fuzzy feelings. If we act with love, respect, and forgiveness, God will in time give us the thoughts and feelings that go along with our actions. What a fantastic blessing a Christian marriage is!

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