Shirts. Music. Jewelry. Exercise.

We get messages about our life in many ways. I find it interesting that people–Christian or not—are making statements to inspire, uplift and keep people going.

One day I was exercising to Kelly Clarkson’s song, “Stronger” when the thought occurred to me that I have 3 songs on my iPod, alone, that speak about being strong!

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Kanye raps,

“That that don’t kill me
Can only make me stronger”

Former American Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson tells us,

“What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller”

Yet another American Idol contestant, Mandisa (& Christian!), sings,

“When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger”

And I’m sure you’ve all heard this quote before,

“A woman is like a tea bag. She only knows her strength when put in hot water.”

Whew! I guess there’s one thing we can learn from this: the hard things in life are not meant to tear us down, but to build us back up!

While I have nothing wrong with the message that the songs above send us, I want to make sure that what I’m hearing aligns with what the Word of God –after all, that is the instruction manual for a Believer’s life!

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Reading in 2 Corinthians…

“That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (12:10)

Isaiah 40…

“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.” (28-29)

Psalm 73:26…

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

Habakkuk 3:19…

“The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights”

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If you are feeling beat down and anything but strong today, I want you to remember that you aren’t alone. You will get through this time but what gets you through isn’t what a rapper raps or a Christian musician sings–it’s through what God Himself, the Author of strength, provides us. God is our strength. God’s purpose is greater than any of ours so trust that He’s going to pull you through what you are going through!