His Strength is Perfect

The first two days of my new position have sent me home exhausted and weary.  My energy is zapped.  My strength is depleted.  I come home barely able to drag myself through the door and to the bedroom to fall asleep hours before bedtime.  Hence the reason I am sitting on the couch right now.  Can't get my body to go anymore.

When I went to school on Monday, I got myself a task force to help me decorate my new room.  Through this process, I was able to muster up the strength and energy I needed.  I was able to renew my passion.  I was able to enforce my new attitude.  I actually was excited yesterday morning.

By the end of the day, I was beat.  There are things that should be taught at the beginning of the school year that were taught for the first time on Monday (over 6 months into the school year).   But the day ended and I survived the first battle.

Then I woke up this morning.  I felt so weak in so many ways.  I did not feel that I was strong enough to continue this new position.  I felt like my strength was gone.  So I prayed.  The song "His Strength is Perfect" started going through my head.  "His strength is perfect when our strength is gone.  He'll carry us when we can't carry on.  Raised in His power, the weak become strong.  His strength is perfect."  So I prayed again for His strength because I knew I had none left.

The next thing to go through my head was the verse in Isaiah 41:10  "fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

I didn't have to be strong.  I didn't have to have any strength left.  All I needed was God to hold me up with His righteous right hand.  I only needed His strength because His strength is perfect.  1 Corinthians 12:9 says "...My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather boast in my weaknesses that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

So the day continued just as smoothly as yesterday, if not more so, until 4th period.  The words I heard took the strength God had given me.  I became weak again.  I am thankful that the students go to lunch before they come to me for 4th, otherwise the day would have turned ugly.

I found another teacher.  She said something that meant a lot to me.  She said "they wouldn't have chosen you if they didn't think you could handle it."  And that is when I started to cry.  I was weak.  I looked at her and said, "I feel so weak.  I don't think I can do this.  But I have to remember His promises.  I need His strength."

After talking with this teacher, I made my way back up to my room and started to pray.  A lot.  I prayed for God to renew my strength and to provide wisdom so I would know how to handle the class that is close to a night mare.  I knew that I needed His strength, because mine was not going to help me with this next class.

I am glad to say that today was much better than yesterday.  I am glad to say that through His wisdom and strength, I did more than survive.  I thrived.  He never left my side.  He never let go of me.  He continually held me up with His righteous right hand and continually renewed my strength throughout the day.

So, whatever you are going through.  Whatever is bringing you down.  Whatever is making you weak.  Ask for His perfect strength.  He doesn't need you to be strong.  You don't need your own strength.  You need God's perfect strength.  Remember "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Philippians 4:13.  You don't have to have all the answers.  You don't have to do this alone.  He will give you the strength you need to go through this valley.  Just ask Him for it.

I may be weak, but through Him, I am strong only By God's Amazing Grace.