The Strength to Trust
by
Susan Landry
Our neighbor’s wife was suffering from the advanced stages of Alzheimer’s Disease when we met him. Jack had quit his job to stay home and care for her; and had just gotten to the point of having to install locks on the doors to prevent her from leaving and wandering out into the neighborhood. A family member had stopped by for a visit and told him that it was not right for him to be a prisoner in his own home, that he shouldn’t have to bear this burden.
His response has changed the way that I look at my own burdens. Here’s what he said,
“God has given me the strength to bear my burden. I don’t expect you to understand that. Just like God gives you the strength to bear the burdens that you carry. To each of us, he helps us in our need.”
My husband and were talking recently about a most difficult season of our marriage over a decade ago. As we remembered the many crushing blows we had to weather, we looked at each other and wondered, “How did we get through that?”
Jack’s words immediately came to mind. God gave us the strength we needed in those moments to bear the seemingly unbearable. People often say that ‘God won’t give you more than you can bear.’ I don’t think that’s entirely accurate. We are often faced with things that we are unable to bear. But our Good Father doesn’t leave us to walk those paths alone. He comes alongside and, somehow, we get through it.
Do you know that the word ‘strength’ shows up in the Psalms, 43 times? Phrases like, “the LORD is my strength,” “the LORD gives strength,” “His great strength,” and “You are my strength” remind us of our hope when we are overwhelmed. You can trust that His strength is enough even when yours isn’t!
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26