Lord, when my faith is weak, I’ll trust in You. You are faithful and constant, and You’re the same yesterday, today, and forever.
I may grow tired and weary, I might even stumble and fall, but I will hope in You and my strength will be renewed. For You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak.
With Your help, I’ll forget what is behind and strain toward what’s ahead. God, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which You have called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
I’m confident that the work You began in me will be completed. No matter what comes my way, Lord, I know that I can do all things with Your perfect strength.
Everything around us—the world, the culture, the people—tends to applaud power and strength, independence and intelligence, boldness and superiority.
But in the third beatitude—a series of promises Jesus made about God’s Kingdom—Jesus highlighted something different, saying:
“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”Matthew 5:5 NIV
The English word “meek” comes from the Greek word “praeis.” It means gentle, humble, or submissive; modest, mild, or unpretentious. In fact, when Paul describes the “fruits of the Spirit” (traits developed in His people by His Spirit), the words “meekness” and “gentleness” are often used interchangeably.
But let’s be clear: If such descriptions paint a frail and feeble picture in your mind, you can be certain that meekness isn’t weakness.
Meekness is strength under control. It’s power submitted to God’s authority.
Now, if “meek” isn’t a word that you’d use to currently describe yourself, that’s okay. Jesus wasn’t speaking to those who had it all together—and He isn’t expecting a perfect version of us, either. Instead, He’s extending a blessing on who His people were (and are) becoming.
God is continually developing these beatitude traits inside of His followers. He’s refining, sanctifying, and transforming us to be more and more like Him.
In Scripture, Jesus Himself is called “meek.” But as you probably know, He was far from passive, apathetic, or a pushover. Instead of relying on His own power—like summoning legions of angels to avoid hanging on that cross—He leaned into God’s strength and restrained His limitless power.
Jesus’ upside-down kingdom will be packed with those who harness their strength for God’s glory and who humble themselves at His feet.
Weakened Faith? You’re Beginning to Doubt God!
Maybe you’ve found yourself in a place where you literally have nothing left. Your faith is depleted, your doubts are overwhelming you, you’re fearful about the future, and to make matters worse, you’re beginning to doubt God. You’ve got nothing left to offer others and certainly nothing left for yourself.
Attempting to accomplish the most ordinary tasks ushers in an exhaustion that rivals a runner finishing a marathon. The good news is that God’s Word is the perfect place to be built back up again.
So, whether you fall to your knees crying out, shout as you hike to the top of a mountain, or simply speak softly in the quiet of your heart, make these truths what you stand on. Not only today, but every day.
God’s perfect strength is deposited into us when we declare His truth over our lives.
