POWER TO THE WEAK

He gives POWER to the WEAK, and to those who have no might He increases STRENGTH – Isaiah 40:29 (NKJV)

It is possible to become spiritually or physically weak, weary, faint, and ready to give up in the course of running the Christian race. Believers face one form of “spiritual paralysis” or the other, due to demonic attacks or mental, emotional and physical exhaustion. Irrespective of the cause however, God’s Word assures us that we can connect with, ask for and receive Strength in place of Weariness and Power in exchange for Weakness: “He gives STRENGTH to the WEARY and increases the POWER of the WEAK.” (Isa.40:29, NIV). God does not want us to be weary: “And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal.6:9). That’s why He “gives POWER to the FAINT” (Isa.40:29a).

For Elijah, the aftermath of the Carmel encounter was a season of spiritual exhaustion: the great prophet suddenly began to despair for his life at the mere threat of Jezebel (1 Kgs 19:2-4). When people are continually drawing from you, without replenishing, you may eventually run low or dry. You cannot consistently be an encouragement to others without refilling your own well at the Source. After the death and burial of the Lord Jesus Christ, Peter became weak and weary. At a point, he fainted and returned to his secular vocation. The fainting Christian is both a risk to himself and others. The danger is that the victim may take several others down with him (Deut. 20:8). In Peter’s case, he took six disciples with him (Jh.21:2-3).

The fainting believer is one who has almost totally lost all strength or sense of strength: “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Pro. 24:10). Are you fainting concerning an assignment God gave you? Are you in a situation where you perceive that you have no strength to continue or to complete what you began? Are you feeling low, discouraged and depressed? Be encouraged by this Word of the Lord. You are a candidate for divine empowerment. Receive God’s supernatural injection of Strength. He who restored fainting Peter to his divine assignment will restore you wholly!

Luke 18:1 says, “And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and NOT TO FAINT.” It is however possible to faint, even in the place of prayer! At the garden of Gethsemane, the Lord had to face His final battle against the flesh and the forces of evil. He had dissipated so much strength; yet He must win that battle, because the salvation of the entire humanity was at stake. In that moment of physical fatigue, emotional depression and spiritual agony, God’s angel gave the Master some doses of divine strength; and He overcame for the whole of humankind. You too can receive divine refreshing and overcome every attack of discouragement and depression. Right now, you can begin to build up yourself in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 20). Never forget: God gives Power to the faint!