God’s Strength

Psalm 13:5-6

“But I have trusted in Your mercy; My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, Because He has dealt bountifully with me.”

Reflections

We often find ourselves facing battles that appear impossible. We become uncertain, overwhelmed, and fearful, seemingly trapped in our circumstances. In Psalm 13:1-4, David cries out to God, fearing for his life. He feels as though his enemies have won. In times of struggle, both believers and unbelievers may offer advice, but often, the advice of the world is not truly helpful—and can even be discouraging.

Throughout the book of Job, amidst losing his wealth, his children, and even his health, Job was given plenty of advice. His wife urged him to curse God and die (Job 2:9). His friends insisted his suffering must be a result of his own sin. Like Job, we may receive advice that is misguided. Some of it may be practical—encouraging self-care, a positive outlook, or gratitude—but while these are good disciplines, they often center on what we can do rather than what God can do through our suffering.

Our focus needs to remain on God. Matthew 14:22-33 tells the well-known story of Peter stepping out of the boat to walk on water toward Jesus in the midst of a storm. When Peter sees the wind and waves, fear overtakes him, and he begins to sink. However, the Bible says Peter actually walked on water (v. 29)—accomplishing the impossible as long as his focus remained on Jesus. The moment he turned his attention to the chaos around him, he was overwhelmed. In the same way, only God can help us claim victory in moments of despair. When we shift our focus from our own weakness to God’s strength (Psalm 13:5-6), we find He is able to sustain us. David, who began in deep despair, turned his heart toward God’s steadfast love and faithfulness—recognizing that true victory comes from God alone.

This does not mean we dismiss our emotions. Our feelings are real and often raw. Some might say David was led to despair by his emotions in Psalm 13:1-4. The truth is, our earthly bodies are weak and prone to sin (Psalm 73:26), and apart from God, we can do nothing (John 15:5). Yet, when we rely on God’s strength and goodness, our focus shifts from being uncertain, overwhelmed, and fearful to being strong in Christ. That is the strength we can walk in as we face difficult circumstances:

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us” (Ephesians 3:20).

Are you moving through life in your own strength, or are you keeping your eyes on Jesus and praying daily for God’s strength?

Prayer

Lord, be gracious to me. Help me to seek you first thing in the morning. Help me to rely on your strength alone during times of distress.