Be Strong

Do you think of yourself as someone who is strong? Perhaps your strength is physical, or mental, or emotional. Or maybe you do not feel strong at all. You may feel like you will simply collapse under the weight of the burdens you carry. You may feel overwhelmed by the daily tasks you must perform. You may feel that you are a failure. No matter how you feel, do not give up. If you feel weak, Jesus is strong. Put your hope in Jesus Christ, and He will give you strength to continue your journey. With Jesus Christ by your side, you will be strong. He will give you physical strength, mental strength, and emotional strength. You can be strong in the Lord.

Personally, I have never truly thought of myself as someone who is especially strong. Sure, I keep my head held high. I smile, even when things go wrong. I try to offer encouraging words to others. Yet, I know I could be a much stronger individual. This week, two friends told me that I was strong. One of them actually said I was stronger than them. The other friend said I was someone who was strong, someone my friends could depend on, and someone they admire. As I tried to process their comments, I was overwhelmed. I was humbled to know that my friends felt this way about me. And I was so grateful to come to the realization that, yes, with God’s help, maybe I am strong after all.

Strength is something that every person seems to desire at some point in their life. When I was a little girl, I enjoyed watching the children’s cartoon, Tom and Jerry. I recall watching episode after episode where Jerry the mouse always seemed to defeat Tom the cat, no matter what defensive course of action Tom may have used. In the end, Jerry knew that he could defeat the cat. Even though he didn’t have the size, he had something greater. He had mental strength to outsmart Tom, and he had the confidence necessary to pull it off. While this may be a fictional cartoon, it is the perfect illustration to use when talking about human strength. Although we may feel inadequate, like Jerry, God gives us the strength we need to overcome any evil in our lives. On our own merit, we may be weak, but God gives us the strength and confidence we need to prevail.

No matter what battle you may be fighting, God is on your side. He will give you the strength you need to overcome. Ephesians 6:10-13 says, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” God has promised that He will provide an armor to protect you from Satan’s snares. God will give you strength to make it through. He will carry your burdens. He will make you strong. Make it your daily prayer to be strong in the Lord. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” Be joyful. Be an inspiration. Be strong.

In Christ’s Love, 

Jennifer

Are You Okay?

This past week, people have continuously asked me how I was doing. Even people I don’t know have stopped me and asked how all of the Suwannee Middle School faculty and staff were doing. I appreciate their concern very much, and I know this is one great thing about living in a smaller, rural community. Still, there were a few moments this week when someone went the extra mile, so to speak, to truly show they genuinely cared about how I was doing. It wasn’t, how are the students, or how is the school? It was, how are you? Not only that, but they took the time to listen to my response. You see, they could see the sadness in my eyes and in my actions. They knew I needed a smile, a hug, or a word of encouragement. And they simply wanted to know the answer to the question, “Are you okay?”

Sadly, we get so busy in our daily lives that we forget to ask if people are doing okay. Oh, we may ask how they are doing, but we may not take the time to ask someone if they really are doing okay. Many times, we greet someone by saying, “Hello, how are you?” Instead of really wanting to know how they are at the moment, it almost becomes more of a courtesy to ask such a question. Unfortunately, people may ask this question as a formality, yet they may not even care how the person is actually doing. Because of the large number of times people ask this question each day, the sincerity with which it is asked is sometimes lacking. Still, there are times when we encounter someone who goes the extra mile to ask us how we are really doing and if we are really okay.

Recently, one dear friend took time out of her busy day to put her arm around me, and then proceeded to ask me if I was doing alright. Then, we shared how we were both feeling about the loss of Coach Edwards. Our sentiments were the same: shock, disbelief, sadness. She asked me if I was okay. She also said if there was anything she could do to help me, she would; all I had to do was to let her know. In truth, she helped me more than she will ever know, just by showing that she cared. Another dear friend gave me a hug, and asked me how I was holding up. Then, she gave one of the sweetest, most unselfish gifts of all: a listening ear. She listened to my sorrows and joys, my worries and cares. And she offered support when I needed it most. These two kindhearted ladies took time to see how I was doing. And in doing so, I left them with my head a little higher, my steps a little lighter, and my smile a little wider.

One day this week, I had an appointment to go to the dentist to have my teeth cleaned. I had dreaded this appointment for quite some time, as routine cleanings are somewhat uncomfortable due to my overly sensitive teeth. I worried about how much it would hurt and whether or not the dental hygienist would be gentle or not. As soon as I sat down with everything in place, the hygienist asked me if I was okay. Consistently, she asked this same question over and over during the entire process. And she didn’t just ask the question and keep working. Instead, she listened to any request I made and corrected anything that might have been making me uncomfortable. You see, she didn’t just ask the question as a formality. She cared about my well-being. She cared if I was experiencing undue pain or discomfort. She cared if I was okay or not.

On your journey through life, there will be times when people ask you if you are okay. Sometimes, they will be sincere and take the time to hear your response. Other times, they will hurry on to their next appointment without even giving you the time of day. I am thankful to know that I can cherish the moments when someone takes the time to show they care. And during the times when people do not genuinely want to know how I am doing, I am grateful that there is One who will always care how I am doing. Jesus Christ is the Friend who sticks closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). There is never a time when I cannot talk to Him. And there is never a time when He will not listen. He will always take time to see if I am doing alright. And He will do the same for you. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8). He will always love you. He will always care for you. And He will always want to know if you’re okay.

In Christ’s Love,
Jennifer