What makes you strong?

Would you consider yourself to be a strong person? If so, what is the source of your strength? Have you ever thought about this? For some, their source of strength may be their family or their upbringing. For others, it may be their commitment to morality, a particular cause, good looks, education/intellect, income, a healthy marriage, actual physical strength, reputation, lack of a criminal record, a perceived view of one’s self as being a pretty “good” person, etc. What is one thing that all of those attributes have in common? They’re not static. In other words, what happens to a person’s strength if those things cease or are absent?

The truth is, none of us are actually strong on our own accord. Unless a person’s strength rests in their identity as a son or daughter of God, they are by nature very weak. There is no true strength apart from Jesus. Anything built on anything other than Jesus is a shaky foundation. Feeling strong based on what we can accomplish on our own leads to pride and arrogance. Have you ever been depressed? I’m not talking about sad for a couple days about something, but actually depressed? Like, where you feel hopeless, don’t want to eat and want to lay in bed all day (if you could) for months or years? Have you ever struggled with drug abuse/alcohol abuse?

Generally, “strong” people tend to look down upon “weak” people. We tend to think, you have the strong people over here on this side (which is the side I’m on), then you have the weak people over here on this side. “Strong” people tend to think things like: “Why are they so depressed? Can’t they just like, get over it?” or they will think: “Why would someone give themselves over to drugs or alcohol? Don’t they know what that leads to? I can’t believe someone would do that.” “Geez, you did that thing again? Haven’t we been down this road a hundred times? Will you just stop it already?”

Haven’t we all thought some of these things, at least from time-to-time? It’s almost hard-wired into me to think this way. I think this is one reason why Job’s friends were such miserable comforters. When we read books like Job, we tend to not think of ourselves as being like his miserable comforters. Or how about the Pharisees? You know, those who clean the outside of the cup, but are full of poison and are dirty on the inside? Most of the time, our perception of ourselves isn’t very accurate.

Shifting from this type of thinking doesn’t come naturally to most of us, even after we have been saved by Jesus. I think it is something that at least in some sense, has to be learned over time, or at least that’s been the case with me through walking alongside people and facing the depths of my own sinfulness, weaknesses, and spiritual infirmities. The Bible actually describes all people as being “bruised reeds” (Isa. 42:3). We are bruised reeds apart from Jesus, and we remain as bruised reeds even after we’re saved by Jesus, until we are made completely new in the end. I don’t walk around fields seeing many bruised reeds nowadays, but it’s safe to say that bruised reeds aren’t very strong. I can picture what one looks like in my mind. They’re very fragile and vulnerable. Some of us, even as Christians, are a little more bruised than others. The Church should hold a special place for these reeds in their hearts. They require extra-care, extra-attention, patience, and forbearance.

How does Jesus treat bruised reeds and smoking flax’s?

“A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench.” – Isaiah 42:3. 

We have an opportunity as believers to demonstrate Jesus’ disposition towards the weak and those with physical and spiritual infirmities by showing them comfort and patience, by weeping alongside them, avoiding trite language and platitudes, and showing them kindness. Although it helps if you yourself have been through many of the same types of experiences as a person who suffers with many weaknesses and infirmities, it is not a requirement. I believe all Christians are called to be gentle and associate with the lowly (Rom. 12:6). The “strong” have an obligation to bear with the weak (Rom. 15:1). This is what we saw Jesus do over and over during his ministry. He regularly rebuked the “strong,” if you remember and frequently showed kindness and compassion to the weak.

Now, it is true that we can become strong. Like possess real strength. But realize, this is by God’s power, not our own. God’s strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. Somehow, we can be both weak and strong simultaneously as Christians. It again, is one of the “tensions” we see in the Christian life. Our strength and power made available to us through Jesus should not  puff us up with conceit. I believe this is one reason why Jesus rebuked his disciples when they came back rejoicing that the demons were subject to them (Luke 10:17). Jesus told them to rejoice rather because their names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20). Everything a Christian has, he has been given from God. There truly is no reason to boast, but in Christ alone.

There is good news for us bruised reeds. Not only can we be made strong through Jesus, as we make our way through this life towards the Celestial City, but Jesus has great patience with us. His mercies are new every morning (Lam 3:23). He will not break us. And though our faith may only be as bright as a faintly burning wick at times, he will not snuff us out. What an opportunity we have as Christians to show the same type of tenderness and care to one another and to the world.