Strength | AdventAI

The Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 19, 1863

Strength.

How many of us want strength! From how many wasted frames, laboring for breath, goes up the cry, "Oh, that I had strength as in former days!" How many burdened souls, bearing a secret load of anxiety and grief, plead silently for strength to endure that which cannot be removed! How do weary hearts, alone in the wide world, yearn for strength to walk bravely the path that lies before them! What longings do the tried and tempted feel, at times, for strength to meet the tempter, and conquer the deadly foes that assail them, within and without!

How do we all desire a strong spirit, by which to rise above the disturbing things that destroy our peace, to perform that which our higher instincts teach us we are truly capable of accomplishing, to prove ourselves superior to all adverse circumstances, so that each event of life may aid in our advance! Oh! how do we hate our own weakness, that stoops under trifling burdens, and shrinks from trial, and bemoans its own inefficiency, and starts back dismayed when obstacles rise in the way.

Yet how few seek strength from the right source. Some, with self-confidence, trust in their own might.

But at last mind and spirit are weakened by physical disease, or some temptation attacks an unguarded point, and sudden ruin teaches the folly of such a dependence. Others, deeply feeling their own need, and owning their exceeding frailty, lean on an earthly idol, and rejoice in the manly strength which they believe can never fail. How soon one touch of death's finger shatters the chosen stronghold!

The highest, noblest, most richly endowed natures are insufficient in themselves. We want a strength that shall renew itself day by day; that shall never deceive and never fail; that shall increase according to our need, and avail in every emergency; that time cannot wear out, or death destroy.

Is this need never to be supplied? Are these longings of our nature always to be unfulfilled? Lo! the blessed word, "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength."

Here is revealed the living fountain, from which, if we drink, we shall never more thirst. Here may fainting souls be revived. Here may weary souls find help. Here may tempted souls apply for weapons that shall cause the enemy to flee in confusion. Here may we lean, nor fear any decay or loss; here gather force to meet every necessity; here live as it were, on angels' food; here learn what it is to "abide in the shadow of the Almighty."

No more yielding to doubts, no more shrinking from grievous burdens, no more shameful defeats on moral battle-fields, for we have learned whereby we may "renew our strength."

A constant growth in grace, a spirit daily becoming like the image of Christ, an indwelling sense of power to endure and to labor, a glorious victory over the "sin that doth so easily beset us." All this, and much more, is the portion of those who "wait on the Lord." "They shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."—S. S. Times.