Mensa Otabil - God Will Strengthen You (11/03/2025)
Psalm 73:26 My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. When we come to the end of our strength, we try to do what we can do; we do our best in any endeavor. When we come to the end of ourselves, we have to remember that God has not come to the end of Himself.
The story is told of a young boy who is sitting by his father. The boy is trying to move a very big stone, and he’s heaving that stone, trying so hard to move it, grunting, but the stone is not moving. It’s far superior to him. So his father is sitting by, watching him try to move this stone. Then the father asks him, «Son, are you using all your strength?» He said, «Yes, Dad, I’m using all my strength; I’m doing everything I can.» The father says, «No, you’re not using all your strength.» He replies, «I’m using all my strength!» The father says, «You haven’t asked me to help you.» Because part of the strength of the boy is the father’s strength. It’s not just what you can do by yourself; it’s what God can help you to do as well.
From the story, you know many times we try our best, and it’s good to be hardworking and to be diligent and to put in effort. We do everything with so much effort, and we think we’ve done our best and that this is going to work, but it’s not working. Have you thought about the fact that probably you haven’t asked God to help you? You haven’t asked Him to give you the wisdom. You haven’t asked Him to open that door for you. You’ve tried your best; you make all the phone calls, but probably it’s time to say, «Lord, help me and open this door for me.» «Oh Lord, help me and let this person treat me well.» Because God is our help, but He must not just be our help watching us; He must be the help that we trust.
Many times, we see ourselves surrounded by enemies, problems, hardships, and difficulties. Some of these enemies can be far bigger and far more profound than we are. You look at the thing you’re supposed to fight, and it is far bigger than yourself. It’s like a human being fighting a dinosaur. This thing is so huge, and you can’t manage it yourself. Yes, you can try to do it the best way you can, but at that time, when you know this rock is bigger than you, this dinosaur is far larger than you, call on your strength. God is by your side; He is with you, and if you call on Him, He will help you.
So the psalmist says, «My flesh and my heart fail.» In other words, I have no courage, I have no strength; I’ve lost it. I’m tired, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. When your heart is failing, God is the strength of your heart. When your hands fail, He is the strength of your hands. When your feet fail, He is the strength of your feet. When you can’t think well and your thoughts fail, He is the strength of your thoughts, and He will guide you. But don’t just let Him watch you doing it; call upon Him, ask Him for help, and the Lord will help you.
So today, turn around and look at all the battles you’re fighting in life, all the things you’re trying to resolve, and ask yourself, «Have I truly brought God on the scene?» I’m not just saying that you prayed casually and said, «God help me, God help me, God help me,» but have you really presented that case before the Lord properly and asked Him for specific help in specific areas that you need? If you haven’t, take time, take a pause, go to the Lord. He is your strength, and He will help you.
Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, You are my strength. I need Your help to overcome all my battles. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»