Strength of Christ

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13

Wilderness experiences strip away all that is familiar. We lose our crutches—the things we rely on to give us strength. When Moses and the Israelites were in the wilderness, they became frustrated. So frustrated that Moses struck his staff on a rock, demanding water. God did provide for them—miraculous manna and quail. It was not what they knew, but what they needed in the wilderness. It forced them to learn patience and to rely on God. They learned how to have gratitude for the unfamiliar when all that was familiar was stripped away in the wilderness.

God uses the wilderness to help us grow. Often, in the wilderness, we have nothing to rely on to give us strength. This forces us to turn to Jesus. We learn how to rely on Jesus for strength. The process of doing this teaches us that we can do anything through the strength that God alone can give us. The strength of Christ is different from other sources of strength. It takes us to unfamiliar territory. But, shouldn’t we expect that if God is helping us to grow? Turn to Jesus. Rely on the strength Christ gives you. And receive with gratitude the growth you experience in the wilderness.