Forever Changed: Overcoming Your Weakness Because of His Strength in You

WEEK 1:  You Are Still God’s Child

DAY 4:  Overcoming Your Weakness Because of His Strength in You

HIDING PLACE:  Return to your secret place for this week.  Look in the mirror and observe how much you have already grown this week!  Each day you are one step closer to discovering who you are in Christ and His purpose for you.  And yes, it is ok to just make baby steps on your way toward rediscovering yourself in Christ because those baby steps will get you to exactly where God wants you to be.  Praise Him for meeting us where we are!

TODAY’S GOAL:  Learn to be strong through Christ and don’t depend on yourself

TODAY’s FOCUS:  Today our focus is on finding strength in Christ to overcome your troubled heart and exhausted mind.

This session may be a little hard because right now you may not even know how or where to find the strength you need to carry on. But remember, if God decided you would live through ‘it’, then He will provide the strength you need to get through it.  You will never understand why things happened, but rest assured that God will use your journey, your very story, to one day save someone else’s life.  It is not the journey you asked for, but God knows deep down inside you lies a warrior.  A warrior who will find the strength needed to walk someone else through a similar journey.  Remember, if God puts a Goliath in front of you, then He sees a David in you!   In I Samuel 17:45, David tells Goliath, the Philistine, “Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel.”  Step into your goliath with the courage and strength that only God can provide in the name of the Lord!

I remembered how upset I was at God when I lost my son.  I was weary, aggravated, let down, and yes, even angry. I had faithfully served God all my life.  I never hesitated to volunteer or serve God and loved working with children and teens.  I thought I was strong and firmly founded in my faith and knew that God always protects His own. But I just could not understand why He didn’t stop that impaired driver that night!  Why didn’t He tell His angels to step in front of that car and save my innocent son? Why my son, in the prime of his life and career, had to die?  Why couldn’t it had been a bad person that died instead of my innocent son?  The ‘whys’ just kept coming, and I no matter where I looked or who I asked, I still had no answers, only tears and deep sorrow. 

 A dear friend who had also tragically lost her daughter, shared scriptures with me, encouraged me, and prayed for me.  She too was on a journey she did not ask for.  But she held me tight and just let me sob in her arms.  Her journey was now going to be my survival guide.  The scripture she shared with me had helped her along her journey of unbearable loss. Whitney, her daughter, and my son, Corey, went to church together and were best of friends.  I am forever grateful that Whitney’s mother found the strength to help another mama along a similar journey as hers.  Neither of us chose to be on this horrible journey but “it” happened.  And all we could do is trust God’s promises and lean on His strength.

I soon learned to recite Isaiah 40:31 over and over until I fully believed what it actually said.  “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” This verse suggests that you should wait upon the Lord.  How do you wait?  I am so glad you asked!   Waiting on the Lord requires you to sit quietly in His presence and just focus on Him and His Word.  I had to learn how to sit quietly before Him even when I was upset and angry.  I did not even know what to say to Him anymore.  Yet He understood the words of each tear that I shed.

Sit. Wait. Two really hard things to do when your spirit is unsettled.  But the quieter you become, the more you can hear. Sounds so simple, but it isn’t.  Sit there until you begin to feel the peace that only His presence brings.  Sit there and pray until something happens (PUSH)!  Waiting on the Lord will always renew your strength.  Renewal may not happen instantly but press on.  Waiting on the Lord can be a lengthy process and in His perfect time, not ours, He will move.  This Bible study is designed to teach you how to get in His presence and find that peace you are so desperately searching for.  And that peace in God will eventually lead to more strength and added wisdom.  You will mount up with wings like an eagle and begin to soar on the renewing winds of strength that only God can provide.  He is working even when you cannot see Him.  Wait.  Renew.  Soar.  And repeat as needed.  It is that easy, but you must remain focused on God even though you may struggle.  Trust the process!

To be completely honest, I have not completely overcome the tragic loss of my son to an impaired driver and never will.  My flesh still struggles with the ridiculous choice she made that cost the life of my son.  I relive the accident, the phone call, the loud sirens, every day.  However, I am so much more at peace now and so much stronger than I ever was.  I am even closer to God because I had to fall in His arms for peace!  To find strength, I had to focus on Him, not the one who killed my son.  I have to focus and re-focus every day, sometimes several times a day.  I have to keep moving forward.  Some days, I might take two steps backwards, but with God’s renewing strength, I find myself redirected and moving forward again. The journey is real, and it is often very uncomfortable.  Often unexplainable.  But God will place an angel, like Whitney’s mother, to help you through.  And in the end, you will eventually be able to help others.  Helping others will empower you and help heal your own broken heart.

Constantly remind yourself to depend on His strength, not yours.   You do not have super powers, but you know the One who does!  As you take those small steps forward, you will learn what God’s will is in your life.  Let’s be honest, you are not the same person you were before ‘it’ happened, and you never will be that same person again.   You are forever changed.  Trust Him.  And trust His strength in you.  He has great plans for your life!  It may be your story, but God will use it for His glory!

SONG & ARTIST:  My Story Your Glory by Matthew West

FOCUS SCRIPTURE:  “And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness. “ (2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV) 

Read the following scriptures.  These are words straight from God and they will help you during your journey of ‘overcoming’.  Highlight the key words that touch your heart.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away.  Behold, all things have become new.

Romans 6:19 (NKJV)  I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.

Joshua 1:9  (NKJV)  Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and of good courage.  Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Deuteronomy 31:6 and 8 (NKJV)  Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you.  He will not forsake you.  And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you.  He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Isaiah 40:29 (NKJV)  He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might, He increases strength.

PERSONAL REFLECTION:   Think of a time when you felt like God had failed you.  Or maybe how you felt when “it” happened.

How did your “it” experience change you as a person?

How did you manage that feeling of hopelessness? 

What did the “it” experience teach you about yourself? 

How did God provide strength to you?  Was there someone who shared their journey with you?

What ‘kingdom work’ do you think God has for you to do now that you are now forever changed?

Do you have favorite scriptures that has helped you through a difficult situation.  If so, then write them below.  Make a quick note of how that verse impacted your healing journey.  If you don’t have any favorite scripture, search for two scriptures that will provide you wisdom and guidance for your healing journey. 

Scripture #1:  _______________________

Scripture #2:  _______________________

At the end of this session, please take a moment and think about how your strength and courage through this life-changing ordeal has changed your perspective about life.  Perhaps you don’t sweat the small stuff anymore.  Perhaps you hug your loved ones a little tighter when you see them.   Maybe you are unaffected by worldly things and only focus on seeing your loved one in Heaven.   Always remember, you may have never known how strong you really are if you had not journeyed through your trials.  It is your story, but it will be for His Glory!  Your pain, but His gain.  Your mess, but His message.

PRAYER:   Dear Lord, thank you for loving me during a time when I could not even take care of myself or anyone else.  Thank you for watching over me when I felt like I was not worthy of your love, grace, or mercy.  Thank you, Lord, for showing me that I am your child and that You love me unconditionally.  Thank you for carrying me when I was too weak to make a step.  Thank you for your forgiveness when I doubted you.  And thank you for the strength you placed in me to remain obedient to Your calling.  I am grateful for your mercy, grace, and salvation.  Please help me to be a witness of your forgiving love so I can reflect Your love in all I say and do.  Allow me to use my experience to help others who may be on a similar journey.  Give me the right words to say so others find hope in the middle of their chaos.  Guide me so that I can always feel your presence.  And above all, Father, please keep me in Your will so I won’t be in Your way.  Amen.