Relying on God's Strength

 By: Lauren Thomas

I’ve heard plenty of admonishments against doing things “in my own strength” and plenty of encouragements to do things “in the strength of the Lord.” But what does that really mean? It can seem pretty abstract. But a short passage in 2 Chronicles helps us make sense of how to rely on God’s strength.

…So his fame spread even to distant places, for he was wondrously helped until he became strong.

16 But when he became strong, he grew arrogant, and it led to his own destruction…

2 Chronicles 26:15b-16a CSB

 

This is commentary on King Uzziah. King Uzziah was a good king. Until he wasn’t. And this was the tipping point: once he saw his strength as his own, his undoing was imminent. Note the progression of these phrases:

 

“he was wondrously helped” – God was the one doing that wondrous helping. And it made Uzziah famous. God caused him to succeed and to do great exploits for his kingdom. 

 

“until he became strong…when he became strong” – Once Uzziah was conscious of what he believed to be his own strength, things changed. Something shifted when he noticed the power and prestige he held.

 

“he grew arrogant” – This was because he believed himself to be the source of his fame, of his success, of his strength. He no longer assigned all this to the Lord, but grew in dangerous pride.

 

“it led to his own destruction” – Proverbs 16:18 reminds us that pride goes before a fall and leads to destruction. His lack of humility, his pride, became a downward spiral to a terrible end to his reign. 

 

How can we avoid the pitfall of Uzziah? How can we do things in the Lord’s strength and not our own? It’s all about humility. It’s all about recognizing that all we have comes from the Lord. It’s about seeking his strength to face whatever comes our way. It’s about recognizing that God is the source of all the “wondrous help” we receive, not ourselves. It’s a reminder to not rely on ourselves.

 

And when things are going well for us, we don’t stop seeking the Lord. When we feel competent and content, we must continue to seek Him. Because that’s when we are in most danger of believing we alone are responsible for our success. 

 

Seek the Lord and his strength;

seek his face always.

1 Chronicles 16:11 CSB

 

Today, whether you need help or things are going well, seek the Lord, seek his strength.

 

Reflection:

Do any other Bible verses come to mind when thinking about the Lord’s strength? What about verses about the dangers of pride. What do you think it means to live and serve in the Lord’s strength?