Be Strong in the Lord

I remember being alone with Anna at the hospital in Delaware and crying out to God saying, "I can't do this!"  I remember the night she died, falling face down on the couch and screaming, "I can't do this!"  I remember many days since November 25, 2007 when I wanted to die because the pain of grief was so bad and I declared, "I can't do this."
At those times when I had NO strength to fight, or even to breathe, God would whisper, "But look, you are doing it."

"I waited patiently [or not so patiently] for the Lord and he heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to my God."  (Psalm 40:1-2)

He heard me say "I can't do this".  He lifted me up.  He gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth and gave me a new hope in my heart.   I did nothing but trust Him.  That's it.  That's my secret.  I had no strength of my own.  I was like David and his men, who after their village was destroyed and their families were taken captive, they wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep...  It was even worse for David, because not only had he lost his family, but his men blamed him for what had happened.

 the men were talking of stoning [David]; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the Lord his God.  (1 Samuel 30)

In his darkest hour, David found strength in the Lord his God.  Earlier in his life, during another difficult time,  David's friend Jonathan came and helped him find strength in God.  (1 Sam 23:16)  David had killed a giant and a lion with nothing but a slingshot and his bare hands.  He was a mighty warrior and a leader of men, but when he came to the point of saying, "I can't," he found strength in his God.

The Lord give strength to his people. (Psalm 29:11)

The Lord is my strength and my song. (Exodus 15:2)

The joy of the Lord is your strength. (Neh. 8:10)

God is the strength of my heart. (Ps. 73:26) 

Real strength does not come from your bank account, your house, your job, your reputation, or your popularity.  All of those things are temporary.  Be strong in the Lord.  (Eph. 6:10)