The worries of life can be burdensome when we rely on our own strength. So how do we persevere through hardships without breaking down? The key is to rely on God’s strength.

I thought I was doing good until I found myself worn out with tears.

I was facing a situation where I needed someone to change. Everything was looking good and the evidence that the person needed was all there. But despite everything pointing to my favor, this person still wouldn’t change.

I did my best to convince this person to change but the outcome stayed the same.

At one point I felt exhausted and told God, “I can’t do this anymore.”

I then ran into Philippians 4:13 which says, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

It was in that moment when I realized that I can’t do this because I’ve been doing it in my own strength and not God’s strength.

Our greatest strength means nothing without God.

God opened my eyes to show me that it’s not by my power, but by His power that my situation can be changed. I could give my all and best, but it would mean nothing without God.

God told me, “This was never your battle to begin with. It was never your task to change this person’s heart.”

God isn’t asking us to fight our battles, He’s only asking us to be still and trust that He’s got this.

We know we are leaning on our own strength when we find ourselves exhausted and worn out. God never intended us to live this way. He wants us to enjoy His presence and not live in anxiousness no matter what we face.

What does it mean to rely on God’s strength? It means taking our hands off our situation and giving it to God.

Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

God isn’t asking us to fix our problems, but in every situation to bring it to Him in prayer and petition with thanksgiving.

When we learn to give our worries to God, His peace will guard our hearts and minds. No situation can cause us to be anxious when we bring our situations to God.

In Judges 6, we see Gideon winning His battles because of God’s strength, and not his.

Gideon said to God, “How can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The Lord answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” (Judges 6:15-16)

God assured Gideon’s victory by His presence. He promised Gideon that He would be with him. Just as God’s presence was the assurance that Gideon needed to win the battle, God is also the only assurance you need to fight your battles.

God never asks us to carry our burdens and fight our battles in our own strength. He asks us to give our burdens to him. Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

When we give our burdens to God, he will sustain us through any storm. There is nothing too difficult for us to overcome when we know that God is always in control.

Just because things are out of control does not mean it’s out of God’s control.

If God is in control, what do we need to be afraid of? God wants us to enjoy the journey. He wants us to go through life with joy and laughter no matter how bad our situation may be. Proverbs 31:25 says, “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.”

We can find joy even in the midst of trials when we recognize that God is with us and is in control. Peace will always follow us when we simply bring our requests to him and trust him to take care of it all.

Do you find yourself exhausted and worn out? Have you been fighting your battles in your own strength or God’s strength? Will you surrender your situation to God and trust that He will take care of your needs?

We don’t have to be anxious about anything because no one can ruin God’s plan – He is all sovereign. The enemy has no power over God’s sovereignty. We have the assurance that nothing can harm us because our God is for us and not against us. Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Fear flees when we know the kind of God who is with us and for us. So remember, rely on God’s strength.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you that I don’t have to live in fear because you are always for me.