“Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” – James 5:8b
Dear Saints,
Where is your strength? When you approach a hurdle or run out of steam, what gives you strength? We all experience times in our lives when our reserves run low. We all encounter situations when we feel at a loss. Sometimes, we have the luxury to take a break and rest. Other times, we simply don’t. Other times, the demands of the present moment leave no space for rest. In the face of deadlines, responsibility or crisis, sometimes added strength is all that will get us through.
Sometimes the strength we need comes from others. The support, whether in the form of encouraging words, helping hands, or silent presence, can be what we need to bolster our spirit. Sometimes the strength we need comes from self-care. Even when we can’t take a break, at least we can nourish and care for our bodies so that they will carry us through the trial at hand. Other times, hidden strength comes from within. Lessons we’ve learned in the past, coping tools we’ve added to our toolbox, or the example of parents or mentors drive us to dig deep and press on. And in the most trying of times, we have to rely on all of the above.
This Advent, the book of James exhorts us: “Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” The implication is that when the Lord appears, we will need to be strong and ready for action. When Jesus comes among us, we’ll need all the strength we can muster so that we can trust his call and follow his lead. The call of Jesus to join him in his mission is a call that takes clear and conscientious hearts.
The beautiful irony of the exhortation, however, is that Jesus not only requires our strength, but he supplies it as well. As we wait and watch and prepare for his coming, we lean on him to supply our strength. The strength we receive from Christ surpasses what we receive from all inner or outer sources. The strength from Christ comes as that “peace that passes all understanding,” and allows us to tap into spiritual resources that exceed all earthly expectations.
As we prepare for the coming of the Prince of Peace, open your hearts to receive the strength his coming brings. With that strength, we also open ourselves up to follow his lead, to shine his light, in everyday and extraordinary ways.
+ Pastor Ginger +
Dear Saints,
Where is your strength? When you approach a hurdle or run out of steam, what gives you strength? We all experience times in our lives when our reserves run low. We all encounter situations when we feel at a loss. Sometimes, we have the luxury to take a break and rest. Other times, we simply don’t. Other times, the demands of the present moment leave no space for rest. In the face of deadlines, responsibility or crisis, sometimes added strength is all that will get us through.
Sometimes the strength we need comes from others. The support, whether in the form of encouraging words, helping hands, or silent presence, can be what we need to bolster our spirit. Sometimes the strength we need comes from self-care. Even when we can’t take a break, at least we can nourish and care for our bodies so that they will carry us through the trial at hand. Other times, hidden strength comes from within. Lessons we’ve learned in the past, coping tools we’ve added to our toolbox, or the example of parents or mentors drive us to dig deep and press on. And in the most trying of times, we have to rely on all of the above.
This Advent, the book of James exhorts us: “Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” The implication is that when the Lord appears, we will need to be strong and ready for action. When Jesus comes among us, we’ll need all the strength we can muster so that we can trust his call and follow his lead. The call of Jesus to join him in his mission is a call that takes clear and conscientious hearts.
The beautiful irony of the exhortation, however, is that Jesus not only requires our strength, but he supplies it as well. As we wait and watch and prepare for his coming, we lean on him to supply our strength. The strength we receive from Christ surpasses what we receive from all inner or outer sources. The strength from Christ comes as that “peace that passes all understanding,” and allows us to tap into spiritual resources that exceed all earthly expectations.
As we prepare for the coming of the Prince of Peace, open your hearts to receive the strength his coming brings. With that strength, we also open ourselves up to follow his lead, to shine his light, in everyday and extraordinary ways.
+ Pastor Ginger +