My Own Strength

The lesson of God's sustain­ing power is one I need to learn again and again, especially re­garding my spiritual life.

Joyce Neergaard is a registered nurse work­ing with Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Middle East Region as Assistant for Project Development, She also serves as Shep­herdess Coordinator of the Middle East Union. She enjoys leading Bible studies with teenagers, presenting health promotion semi­nars to the community, and singing.

This article appeared in the Shepherdess Newsletter of the Middle East, Third Quarter 1994, Used with permission.

Those of us with a lot of energy sometimes forget that we do not generate that vigor ourselves. We may be tired at the end of a long, hard day, but a good rest at night refreshes us and we are ready to go again. This revival does not just happen. It is the direct result of the restorative and healing power of our Maker.

These days I have been made acutely aware of what energy depletion means. My husband has been ill with a stamina-sap­ping condition, Hepatitis A. His liver was so affected that an en­zyme level that should have been 30 was over 3,0003 As Jim has been recovering, he finds that overdo­ing it one day sets him back to "below zero" energy level for two or three days. He is struggling to learn to set realistic limits on his activities. He is improving and we thank God daily for His healing power. My husband's experience has reminded me that I have no physical strength apart from. my Omnipotent Creator.

The lesson of God's sustain­ing power is one I need to learn again and again, especially re­garding my spiritual life. Often I think I am doing okay in my spiri­tual growth because I may be able to hold my tongue on this occa­sion or show a kindness on that. But many times l fall into the trap of trying to rely on my own spiri­tual muscle to live the Christian life—and of course, I fail. I need to realize that I do not have any power. My only stamina comes from giving myself over com­pletely to Jesus. He is my strength.

Jesus told the apostle Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9, NKJV).

When I give my weakness to Jesus, He fills in the energy-power gap and lives His life through me. Any good that I do comes from God working through me. There­fore, God is gloried and praise goes to Him.

My strength, physical and spiritual, comes from the Lord. I must rely on Him every day, ev­ery hour, every minute. Today I relearned the lesson.

Teach me again Lord, tomor­row.

Joyce Neergaard is a registered nurse work­ing with Adventist Development and Relief Agency, Middle East Region as Assistant for Project Development, She also serves as Shep­herdess Coordinator of the Middle East Union. She enjoys leading Bible studies with teenagers, presenting health promotion semi­nars to the community, and singing.

This article appeared in the Shepherdess Newsletter of the Middle East, Third Quarter 1994, Used with permission.