Well quoted verse as this may be, the Lord’s strengthening defies simple caricature. The Samson story immediately surfaces, he who in his final moments cried out, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time, O God…” (Judges 16:28). One would expect God to be able to do as Samson pled, for after all He spoke the cosmos into creation. But can He help those who need moral or spiritual strength?

Paul instructed the Ephesians, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might” (Eph 6:10). He himself accepted the mantle of this teaching when the Lord supernaturally spoke to him, “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ” (2 Cor 12:9). So, the correct answer is, “Yes, the Lord can help us with strength.”

But do we really believe it? Is this only for the super-spiritual, the Christian mystics who walk all day long in a spiritual aura? No! This strengthening of the Lord is within reach of all Christians. Scripture does not limit this to those who already are spiritually strong, but extends the promise to those who are morally or spiritually weak. That includes the sub-grouping of humanity that includes the apostle himself. Even the Lord Jesus was strengthened in Gethsemane (Luke 22:43). Although the Greek word there is different than the word for “strength” in our passage today, they both convey the same idea of “giving strength.” Thus, the sub-group of humanity that needs strengthening from God is co-extensive with all of humanity!

So we are all in need and God is the same God for all of us. Why then do we not believe this promise? Indeed, is it not a promise and not just the personal musings of the apostle? He speaks for all the faithful; can you join him in faith? Do you dare believe it? When faced with temptation, do you, do I, believe that God will not allow anything beyond what we are capable of handling (1 Cor 10:13)? Do we believe that God will strengthen our faith when everything precious in our lives is ripped from us, and we are tempted to question whether God is good or whether He is sovereign, but not both? If He is good, then He is powerless to prevent a certain tragedy. If He is sovereign, then He is not good for “allowing” that tragedy. Faith is strengthened when we conclude that it may not make sense to me, but I trust in Him. That is spiritual and moral strength.