Unfailing strength in the midst of my weakness

An Emoji Devotional for Sunday 17th July 2022

Topic: Unfailing strength in the midst of my weakness

By Pastor Hans Wenger

Highlights:
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life. You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes; with your right hand you save me. (Psalm 138:7)

For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2. Corinthians 4:6-10)

‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’ (John 6:33)

Psalm 138 is a worship of the true and only God in the presence of the mighty and powerful, of those, who consider themselves as majesties and Gods. Among all these powers, David sings his praises to the one who is the creator of heaven and earth with everything that is within them. He alone deserves the glory; he alone is to be praised. To his name only sings David his praises, to him alone he bows down because of his love, his faithfulness and his mercy. From him alone he expects, love grace, help and salvation, although he is way out of his comfort zone. He walks in the midst of life threatening trouble, but is totally confident that although the Lord is exalted above all, “he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.” (Psalm 138:6b) He knows that the Lord God Almighty will preserve his life and will eventually rescue him from his foes through Jesus Christ, who is God’s right hand.

Paul is in big trouble in Asia. It is so bad that he writes: “We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself.” (2. Corinthians 1, 8b). As they walked in the midst of trouble, they gave praises to the one, who went through even deeper troubles and darkness and has overcome the world inclusive death that had been brought into the world through Adam and Eve. In looking upon him and in trusting him, they got miraculously saved and Paul was enabled to burst out into the verses of today’s highlight above. The light of God got visible in the weakness of their human bodies. They experience that in trusting the Lord God Almighty, nobody and nothing can break you, you do not have to surrender, you do not have to give in, and tough seemingly weak and frail, the power of the resurrected Christ is so strong in you that you are able to prevail in every perilous situation.

Finally the Lord Jesus himself comforts his disciples by telling them that it is very normal to go through troubles and afflictions will be in this world. They will be challenged, hated and persecuted. They will be led in all sorts of difficulties, but in trusting and following him, who has overcome the world, they still can have the inner peace. Even though death may strike – life eternal will save them. Even though the sufferings may grow beyond the human capacity, they are assured that peace will not leave them.

Brothers and Sisters, we are the disciples of Christ Jesus. The power David sings of in Psalm 138, the strength Paul talks about in 2. Corinthians and the peace of heart in the victory of Jesus Christ over the world, belong to us. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 1 with what a mighty power God has equipped us in Christ Jesus: “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Let us trust him and cherish and praise his power in the midst of our weakness.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I am weak, but you are more powerful than everything else in this world. Let me relax in your strength, in your total goodness, in your mercy and grace. You triumph over everything and in trusting you; I can participate in your victorious glory. Thank you for your great gift of power and strength.