How to Develop Strength to Face Your Challenges 

Several mornings each week, Sailor-Man and I do a gym workout. Our bodies aren’t getting younger, so we’re doing our best to make them stronger. Lifting weights and using the resistance machines has become an enjoyable discipline because I know the effort benefits me. 

The same idea applies to my spiritual life. Spending time in God’s Word, obeying His directives, communicating with Him in prayer – I find these disciplines and more enjoyable because I know they make me strong. And boy oh boy, do I need strength! I suspect you do, too.

Our need for spiritual strength

The times in which we live are like no other. Global and national political unrest has leaked toxic words, attitudes, and actions into our homes, churches, and communities. Tension in relationships leaves us confused. We feel betrayed and hurt, even shocked, and we wonder where the chaos is leading.

Aside from the news and social media, most of us are dealing with one or more difficulties of a different nature: chronic pain, the increasing cost of living, loneliness, shame, waiting for a prodigal to return, and grief over the loss of a loved one or the death of a dream. Some of you are facing uncertainty about the future after losing all your possessions in a natural disaster.

If ever we needed to be strong, it’s now. So how do we develop spiritual strength to face our challenges? Here are three things we can do.

Engage in truthful self-talk

One of my greatest enemies to maintaining physical health is self-talk. A little voice in my head whispers, “Why bother working out? You’re getting older. No one would blame you for not getting up early to exercise.” 

Likewise, negative self-talk can erode our efforts to develop spiritual strength too. Here are a few examples:

• “Spiritual disciplines are for spiritual giants, and I’m not one of them.”
• “God wouldn’t have allowed this difficulty in my life if He really loved me.”
• “I’m neither good enough nor gifted enough for God to use in building His kingdom.”

Sometimes we fall into negative self-talk without even realizing it. Unless we put the brakes on it, we begin to believe it’s true. Our beliefs always influence our behaviors, and our behaviors determine our destiny. 

The psalmist may have understood this principle, for he prayed, “Keep me from lying to myself.” (Psalm 119:29a) Beginning today, let’s adopt his prayer as our own. Only by engaging in truthful self-talk will we head the right direction if we want to gain the strength needed to rise above our challenges.

Maintain the habit of reading God’s Word

The second half of Psalm 119:29 says, “Give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.” The better we know God’s instructions, the better able we are to recognize untrue self-talk when it pops into our heads. That’s why it’s important to develop or follow a reading plan that works for you.

Rising early to read my Bible didn’t work for me when my kids were preschoolers. I tried, but they always woke up a couple of minutes after I did. It’s like they had built-in radar to detect mommy motion. Instead, I grabbed a few minutes in the afternoon when they napped. 

Time was limited, so I often read and mulled over only one or two verses. I’d pray, “God, teach me one new thing about Yourself,” and He always did.

My life season looks much different now, so I enjoy reading through the Bible in a year. My favorite resource is the One Year Bible Expressions, but this year I switched things up and am using the One Year Chronological Bible Expressions (affiliate links). Try one or the other. Like me, you might really enjoy these. Regardless, find what works best for you and consider it a joy and privilege to meet with the Lord. He loves you and wants to spend time with you in this way.

Deepen your understanding of who God is

Some of you know my story of being left behind in Nepal when Sailor-Man brought our three-day-old daughter back to the United States for life-saving surgery. I was twenty-six years old and facing the perfect storm. Would my daughter live or die? What about housing and a job? How would we pay the medical bills without insurance?

That experience became a pivot-point for me. It helped me realize that simply growing up in a Christian family wasn’t enough to make my faith strong in crisis. Neither was having a Bible college diploma or being actively involved in career ministry. The only thing that gave me strength to face my challenges was understanding the faithfulness of God.

This event birthed my desire to deepen my understanding of God’s character. In retrospect, I believe that’s where God planted His calling in my heart to write the books He has asked me to write. It became my test-imony.

“Stay strong! Your test will become your test-imony, your mess will become your mess-age.” ~ Max Lucado

Researching and writing Names of God: Living Unafraid, and then writing and recording the bonus teaching videos was a faith-stretching, faith-building assignment. Discovering more about God’s character as manifest through His biblical names opened my eyes to catch a glimpse of His role as Yahweh—the self-existent, self-sufficient creator God who wants relationship with us. It helped me better understand His character as Yahweh Rohi–our shepherd, Yahweh Yireh—our provider, Yahweh Tzevaot—the one does battle for us, El Elyon—the supreme God who always has the final say, and more.

When I face circumstances that leave my heart feeling weak, I reflect on who God is as manifest through those names, and my strength returns. If you haven’t already done this study, then I encourage you to do so. (And no, I’m not pitching to get rich. Truth be told, I haven’t earned a dime in royalties.) I say this because I’m convinced in the life-changing power of understanding who God is. This is vital to our spiritual strength.

Promises to help develop spiritual strength to face our challenges

When circumstances test your grit, God’s Word offers reason for courage, hope, and strength. Here are a few reminders that Almighty God will give you strength needed to live like an overcomer.

• You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness. In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall. (Psalm 18:28-29)
• God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect. (Psalm 18:32)
• The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. (Psalm 28:7)
• My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever. (Psalm 73:26)
• Tell everyone about God’s power. His majesty shines down on Israel; his strength is mighty in the heavens. God is awesome in his sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God! (Psalm 68:34-35)

When the battle rages around you, remember to engage in truthful self-talk, maintain the habit of reading God’s Word, and seek to grow deeper in your understanding of who God is. He will strengthen you, my friend. Of this you can be sure.