In His Strength

My husband and I have been married for almost 33 years!

During that time, we have lived in four different homes

We built one home and have remodeled the other three homes while living in them!

Over the last 33 years, I have learned…well, it might be more accurate to say…attempted…many skills/trades during the remodeling phases!

I have torn off an old roof and helped put on a new roof!

I have helped hang dry wall (which means, I basically held it in place while my husband screwed it in place).

I have hung insulation!

I have pounded nails into a sub-floor!

I have primed and painted more trim than I like to imagine!

I have painted walls!

I have stripped wallpaper!

I have helped hang wallpaper and borders!

I have put sealant on basement walls!

And much more!

Most recently, I decided I would remove the old, overgrown and partially dead landscaping that was around our home and pool!

It was a huge project, but I thought I could handle it!

With work gloves on, safety glasses to protect my eyes, and this power tool, I tackled the job!

It wasn’t easy!

It was hot…it was dirty…and to reach most of the branches, I had to literally crawl under some of the bushes with my power saw so I could get to them.

But as I made progress, I was encouraged to press on!

My arms and legs often got scratched and cut from the branches.  Often, I didn’t even realize this until I saw blood trickling down my arm or leg!

And though I wore gloves, my fingernails still had dirt caked underneath them!

My hair was often full of dead pine needles, leaves and small twigs as I climbed out from underneath the bushes!

And the bugs…oh my!

Tiny, pesky, persistent black bugs that bit me while I was working, leaving small bites and welts where they had landed on my skin!

It took several days to complete this project!

Once all of the landscaping had been cut back, I had to drag the limbs and branches to a large burn pile (which I am leaving for my husband to tackle when he gets home)!

And if I am honest…there were times that I thought when I first tackled this project…this job is too big for me…I won’t be able to do this!

But each time I went out to begin working, I was reminded…I wasn’t tackling the job in my own strength…I was relying on the Lord.

And I would repeat the well-known scripture to myself…”I can do all things through Christ who gives my strength”…Philippians 4:13.

And when I was hot and weary…I was reminded…I was not alone…God was with me and I was tackling this project in His strength!

And honestly, isn’t this how I should tackle all of my projects!

Isn’t this how I should handle every situation!

And how I should face each and every day!

In God’s strength!

There are so many things that I cannot do on my own!

But in His strength…knowing that HE is always with me…I am able to do things that I never thought were possible.

Again, his word reminds me…”Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us”…Ephesians 3:20.

And these promises are not just limited to the physical, manual tasks that are before us!

God desires to help us in every aspect of our lives!

Walking across the room to introduce yourself to someone new can be intimidating, so ask God to help you…walk across the room in his strength!

Going back to school to complete that degree after being out of school for numerous years…ask God to join you in the classroom…as you write that paper…study for that test!

Sharing your story…what Jesus has done in your life with a non-believer can be scary! 

We wonder if we will have the right words to say…I encourage you to ask Jesus to speak through you…to equip you in that moment!

Whatever God has laid on your heart for you to do…He will be with you!

And for all of those things that you have wanted to venture out and try…do it! 

You might be amazed at what you will accomplish in His strength!

If I can do this…so can you!

Dear Heavenly Father…Thank you for always being with me!  And when I tackled big projects…whatever they might be…thank you for being my strength!  I am so thankful that I never have to tackle anything in life without you!