Whatever the circumstance may be, stand on the word of God in Ephesians 6: 10 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”
Being strong is developing an attitude of not allowing just anything to break you. Being tough is the determination to survive challenging moments.
To be strong means:
- To stay positive in the midst of negativity
Negativity abounds when you are told you will never make it and asked, “who do you think you are?” It happens when you have faith to reach greater heights and those around you tell you it will never happen. It is also when you are full of energy, passion, drive and desire to make things happen and your environment or world is full of naysayers, critics and detractors.
- To stay optimistic in the midst of pessimism
You see the possibilities; everyone else sees the impossibilities. You believe you can, but you are in the midst of people, colleagues, family members, friends, fellow church members, leaders and bosses, who say you cannot.
- To put on a bold face in the midst of fearfulness.
The Bible says God has never given us the spirit of fear. The other translations say timidity. This we find in 2 Timothy 1:7
In Psalms 23, David says though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
Appear confident in the face of any danger.
- To rise every time you fall
There are times when your attempts will fail. Your attempts to start a new business may not take off. Your new career or higher position may not work out as you had hoped. You may not finish the new course on record time. You may fail halfway with your project. Your finances may run out while trying something new. But, rise up. You strength is in rising up.
The Bible says a righteous man falls seven times, but every time he falls, he rises again. Proverbs….. Rise. That is being strong.
- To stay resolute in the midst of discouragement
Never allow discouragements to break. That is being strong. There will be those moments of discouragement, dissuasion and deterrence. There will be things that will want to discourage you. There will be unfortunate circumstances that may crop up, such as a loss of a loved one while you are in the middle or about to finish your project. But whatever it may be don’t let it bend you.
- To stay calm in the midst of the storm
There might be a storm that splashes you and want to bring you down. Stay strong.
- To stay happy in the midst of your tears
The Bible says weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. And the joy of the Lord is my strength.
- To stay blessed in the midst of insults and curses
Words will be thrown at you by your haters saying you think you are better, but ignore them and look at what is coming next.
- To speak victory in the face of defeat
You are a victorious person. Tell yourself that.
- To speak success in the face of failure
Failure is not an option.
- To speak abundance in the midst of lack
Never allow unfortunate circumstances to control your tongue. Never allow your tongue to glorify lack and poverty. Speak abundance even when you have nothing.
- To keep running even when you are limping
Some atlhetes are known to have refused to quit because of the limp. They finished their courses with a limp.
- To turn your weaknesses into strengths
To be strong also means turning your weaknesses into strengths.
The Bible says let the weak say I am strong.
