You are my strength, my God who is strong

Loving Father, I can’t do this. I’ve overwhelmed. Burdened. I can’t take it much longer. 

But You understand, God. Your Word is filled with cries just like mine. 

For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself (2 Cor. 1:8 ESV, emphasis added).

My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your word! (Ps. 119:28 ESV).

Beyond my strength, into my sorrow, Isaiah reminds me that You are my strength, my God. I’m interrupting my suffering with praise to You right now.

You ARE strong, Lord!

In all the strife of mortal life our feet shall stand securely;

temptation’s hour shall lose its pow’r, for you shall guard us surely.

(“WHO TRUSTS IN GOD, A STRONG ABODE,” MAGDEBURG, J., 1572, ANON., 1597) 

Powerful and mighty God, You created and sustain the entire world. I see Your power every morning and evening, with the sun, moon, and stars rising. I see Your might in the tiniest of Your created creatures, the wonder of my intricately made body, the magnificence of ecosystems. You’re supremely strong! You can do anything!

Who is this King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, mighty in battle! (Ps. 24:8 ESV). 

In Your Word, You often repeat this question: “Is anything too hard” for God? (e.g., Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:27), and You answer, 

For nothing will be impossible with God (Lk. 1:37).

Luke 1? This served as Your birth announcement of my Savior! In Your all-surpassing strength, by the Holy Spirit, You brought Jesus into the world, overriding Your natural creation. And who is Jesus Christ? 

You are my salvation!

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Is. 9:6 ESV, emphasis added). 

Prophesied 700 years before His birth, Jesus is Mighty God! Lord, thank You for reminding me when I’m so weak in my forget-full fears. The prophet Zephaniah encouraged Your people not to fear evil or weaken as our final day of this fallen world approaches. He reminded them of “a mighty one who will save” (Zeph. 3:17). 

You’ve fulfilled this prophecy for believers in Jesus Christ! I now have Immanuel, “God with us,” within me by Your indwelling Spirit. You have indeed become my salvation! 

Though Satan’s wrath beset our path, and worldly scorn assail us,

while you are near we will not fear, your strength shall never fail us!

You’re strong enough to have overcome sin and death inherent in our world since the Genesis 3 fall, resurrected in Your strength. You’re strong enough to have made me alive in Christ when I was dead in my sin. Hallelujah!

In you alone, dear Lord, we own sweet hope and consolation;
our shield from foes, our balm for woes, our great and sure salvation.

You are MY strength, my God who is strong!

In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world (Jn. 16:33 ESV). 

Lord Jesus Christ, You have already overcome! You are far above all rule, authority, power, dominion, and name (Eph. 1:21)! And, by Your grace, I’m now in union with You, so You are MY strength today! Because You’re that strong and nothing is too hard for You, I can trust Your strengthening work in my heart and life as I suffer.

Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust and not be afraid;

for the LORD God is my strength

and my song,

and he has become 

my salvation (Is. 12:2 ESV).

Isaiah 12:2 connects Your strength with my trust when I’m afraid of what is happening…and might happen.

So, please strengthen me into Your perfect peace, trusting contentment, walking fearless and without discouragement, oh Lord, my strength. This is the immeasurable greatness of Your resurrecting power toward me as I suffer, according to the working of Your great might (Eph. 1:20)! Without Your strengthening work in my heart, there’s no way. All glory to You!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might (Eph. 6:10 ESV).

Who trusts in God, a strong abode in heav’n and earth possesses;
who looks in love to Christ above, no fear his heart oppresses.

Whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 4:11 ESV, emphasis added). 

I have learned in whatever situation I am in to be content…I can do all things through him who strengthens me (Phil. 4:11, 13 ESV, emphasis added).

O God, renew, with heav’nly dew, our body, soul, and spirit,
until we stand at your right hand, through Jesus’ saving merit.

You are my song, my Lord and Savior

This suffering is so hard, but You are strengthening me into a life of deepened trust in Jesus until I’m home with You. So, please help me to sing praise to You, my strength, my salvation, my song. 

The LORD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation (Ex. 15:2 ESV).

Your rod and staff shall keep us safe, and guide our steps forever;
nor shades of death, nor hell beneath, our souls from you shall sever.

In the name of my Savior, my strength, my song, my God, amen.

Material adapted from Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character in Our Suffering, Lauri A. Hogle. Copyright © 2022, Singing Christ’s Hope.

A playlist to sing, “You are my strength, my God”

On the hardest and weakest days of suffering, I am singing aloud to God who is my only strength. It’s His lovely means of grace, to give me strength when I’m battle-weary. I absolutely need to sing Scriptural songs, hymns, and Psalms as He directs us to do.

So I’ve professionally curated a playlist to sing, fostering our trust in our Lord as He strengthens us. If it would bless you to praise God for His strength and sing-ask Him for strength to walk through your trial, sign up here, and I’ll send the music to your email with love and prayer as a fellow suffering sister in Christ.

First Name

Email address:

Leave this field empty if you’re human: