Need Strength?

“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” I repeated Philippians 4:13 again and again as I sat in the dentist chair.

Normally, I get through my time in the torture chamber, uh, I mean the dentist’s office, but yesterday was different. With an uncomfortable “retractor” in my mouth that nestled under my nose, a tube in my mouth and allergies causing havoc in my throat, I wasn’t sure I could get through it. A popular airline commercial flashed in my mind, “Wanna get away?” YES. RIGHT NOW.

The dentist asked me, “Are you doing OK?” I shook my head to say “no.” He responded, “Just breathe.”

I want to add a disclaimer, if I have to go to the dentist, I am going to this one. I think he and his staff are the best around, but it didn’t matter how great of a dentist he was, this time, I was not coping. As a panic attack was brewing, I continued to repeat the verse, and tried to be like the Apostle Paul.

When Paul wrote, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” he was imprisoned in Rome. The word “gives” in the Greek also means “strengthen.” So Paul is saying I can do all things through him (Christ) who strengthens my strength.”

I believe Paul was saying, “I’m a very strong guy and can handle almost anything, but occasionally there’s something even I can’t cope with, and I need God to strengthen my strength.” Isn’t Paul the one who also said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9)? In that situation, the mentally strong Paul was battling with a “thorn in his flesh” that he pleaded with God three times to take away. It was probably an illness, but we do not know for sure. All we know is that Paul said it tormented him.

Do you have something tormenting you right now? Is your strength waning?

God did not remove the torment from Paul because he wanted to keep the apostle from being “conceited.” God knew Paul’s independent nature and forced Paul to lean on him. He didn’t want him to get a superiority complex because of his strength, so he let him be weak at times to know he needed Christ’s strength.

You may consider yourself a strong person, but maybe you are going through something that has zapped your strength. It could be disease, a relationship issue or a death in the family. I have found it is only through the strength of Christ we can get through these things, for when we are weak, he is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Do you need Christ’s strength today?

Meanwhile, back at the torture chamber, you might be wondering if I got through my dental appointment. Yes, as I continued to repeat, “I can do everything through him who gives me strength” I believe God slowed my breathing down and gave me what I needed to finish out the appointment. I apologized to my patient dentist and his assistant afterwards, embarrassed by my lack of coping. They were gracious.

But even this strong girl gets weak at times, and it’s a reminder I cannot make it through life without the strength of Christ. He is the one who helps me through the worst of situations. He is the reason I can face what each day has to bring. When I just “wanna get away” he provides what I need to stay planted.

Today, I am rejoicing about Christ’s strength, and thankful for dentists, because without them, I wouldn’t be able to smile. (LBW)