Reliance on God's power and might in our weakness.
Strength: Reliance on God’s Power in Our Weakness
Biblical strength is not human toughness, willpower, or personality. It is God’s own power manifested in and through weak, dependent people who trust Him. True strength is not self-reliance; it is God-reliance.
In this study, we will see that God has always intended His people to live by His strength, not their own—fulfilled in Christ and applied by the Holy Spirit today in a very real, supernatural way.
1. The Biblical Definition of Strength
Old Testament Words
“Strength” – עֹז (oz) / חַיִל (chayil)
Oz carries the idea of might, power, force, security (e.g., “The LORD is my strength and my song” – Exodus 15:2).
Chayil often means strength, valor, army, wealth—power in action (e.g., “a mighty man of valor” – Judges 6:12).
“Power/Might” – גְּבוּרָה (gevurah)
Means might, heroic power, mighty deeds (Psalm 21:13; Isaiah 11:2).
In the Old Testament, strength is often connected to:
God’s covenant faithfulness (He strengthens His people).
Military victory and deliverance.
Inner courage and endurance.
New Testament Words
“Power” – δύναμις (dynamis)
Root of our word “dynamite.” Means power, might, ability, miraculous power.
Used of the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8), miracles (1 Corinthians 12:10), and the power that raised Christ (Ephesians 1:19–20).
“Strengthen” – ἐνδυναμόω (endynamoō)
Literally “to empower, to make strong in, to fill with power.”
Used in Ephesians 6:10: “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
Biblical strength is God’s own power shared with, and manifested through, His people. It is:
Derived, not native: “The LORD is the strength of my life” (Psalm 27:1).
Perfected in weakness: “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Accessed by faith: We are “strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).
So, strength in the biblical sense is God’s supernatural enabling—spiritual, emotional, and sometimes physical—given to those who acknowledge their weakness and trust Him.
2. Old Testament Foundation
From the beginning, God’s pattern is to choose weak vessels so that His strength is clearly seen.
a) The Exodus: Strength in Deliverance
Israel’s national identity begins with a demonstration of God’s strength:
“The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation” (Exodus 15:2).
Israel did not free themselves by military power; God broke Egypt with signs and wonders (Exodus 7–12).
God’s strength is displayed for His people and through His appointed leader, Moses.
b) Wilderness Dependence
In the wilderness, Israel learned that strength comes from dependence:
Manna from heaven (Exodus 16): They could not sustain themselves.
Water from the rock (Exodus 17:1–7; Numbers 20:7–11).
Victory over Amalek came as Moses’ hands were upheld (Exodus 17:8–13). The battle was won not by military superiority but by God’s power released through intercession and obedience.
c) Joshua and the Call to Be Strong
When Joshua takes leadership, God commands:
“Be strong and of good courage… for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
Notice:
The basis of Joshua’s strength is God’s presence, not Joshua’s personality.
Strength is linked to obedience to the Word: “that you may observe to do according to all the law” (Joshua 1:7–8).
d) Judges and Kings: God’s Strength in Human Weakness
Gideon: Called a “mighty man of valor” while hiding in fear (Judges 6:12). God deliberately reduces his army to 300 so that the victory clearly belongs to the Lord (Judges 7:2).
Samson: A dramatic picture of supernatural strength given by the Spirit of the LORD (Judges 14:6, 19; 15:14). When the Spirit departed, his strength left (Judges 16:20).
David: Frequently confesses his dependence:
“The LORD is the strength of my life” (Psalm 27:1).
“It is God who arms me with strength” (Psalm 18:32).
e) Prophets and Poets: Strength in Waiting on God
Isaiah gives a key principle:
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength… those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:29–31).
The Hebrew for “renew” literally means “to exchange.” We exchange our weakness for His strength as we wait on Him.
Habakkuk echoes this:
“The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet” (Habakkuk 3:19).
The Old Testament consistently teaches: God Himself is the strength of His people, especially when they are weak, outnumbered, or overwhelmed.
3. The Fulfillment in Christ
Jesus is the perfect revelation of God’s strength expressed in human weakness and dependence.
a) Jesus’ Dependence on the Father
Though fully God, Jesus lived as a man in complete dependence on the Father:
“The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do” (John 5:19).
“I can of Myself do nothing” (John 5:30).
His strength in ministry came from the anointing of the Holy Spirit (Luke 4:18; Acts 10:38).
Jesus models the Spirit-filled, dependent life that we are called to live.
b) Strength in the Garden and the Cross
In Gethsemane, Jesus experiences deep human weakness and anguish (Luke 22:44), yet:
He submits: “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42).
“Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him” (Luke 22:43).
On the cross, Jesus appears utterly weak, yet this is the greatest display of God’s power:
“Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24).
“Weakness” of God in the cross is stronger than men (1 Corinthians 1:25).
The cross shows that God’s power is released through surrender, not self-assertion.
c) Resurrection: The Ultimate Display of Strength
Paul prays that believers would know:
“What is the exceeding greatness of His power (dynamis) toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power (kratos), which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead” (Ephesians 1:19–20).
The resurrection is:
The supreme demonstration of God’s strength.
The pattern and source of the power now available to us in Christ.
d) Union with Christ
Believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:4–5; Galatians 2:20). Therefore:
His strength is now our inheritance.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens (endynamoō) me” (Philippians 4:13).
Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament pattern by living in perfect dependence on the Father, dying in apparent weakness, and rising in overwhelming power—so that His strength could be shared with His people through the Holy Spirit.
4. The Power for Today: The Holy Spirit and the Believer’s Strength
This is where the doctrine becomes intensely practical and supernatural. The same Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus is given to us.
a) The Promise of Power
Jesus commanded the disciples:
“You shall receive power (dynamis) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me” (Acts 1:8).
Notice:
Power is not optional; it is central to the Christian calling.
This power is experiential and functional—it enables us to be effective witnesses, to live holy lives, to minister in the supernatural.
b) Strength in the Inner Man
Paul prays:
“That He would grant you… to be strengthened (krataioō) with might (dynamis) through His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).
This is:
Ongoing: “be strengthened” is a continuous idea.
Internal: It begins in the “inner man”—our spirit.
By the Spirit: Not by self-discipline alone, though discipline has its place.
The Holy Spirit imparts:
Strength to resist sin (Galatians 5:16–17).
Strength to endure trials (Colossians 1:11).
Strength to pray (Romans 8:26).
Strength to minister with gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:7–11).
c) Power in Weakness
Paul’s thorn in the flesh leads to a profound revelation:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Paul’s response:
“Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power (dynamis) of Christ may rest upon me… For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10).
The Spirit does not always remove weakness; He fills it with divine power. Our acknowledged weakness becomes the landing strip for God’s strength.
d) Authority and Strength in Spiritual Warfare
We are not called to face demonic powers in our own strength:
“Be strong (endynamoō) in the Lord and in the power (kratos) of His might (ischys)” (Ephesians 6:10).
We are given authority over demons (Luke 10:19; Mark 16:17).
Strength in warfare is not emotional intensity but confidence in Christ’s finished work and the power of His name and blood (Revelation 12:11).
e) Expecting God to Move
A continuationist, Spirit-filled perspective insists: God’s power is not just a doctrine; it is a present reality.
The Spirit still heals (James 5:14–16; 1 Corinthians 12:9).
The Spirit still works miracles (1 Corinthians 12:10; Galatians 3:5).
The Spirit still strengthens the weary in tangible ways—lifting depression, breaking addictions, empowering obedience, and granting boldness (Acts 4:31).
We are called to:
Ask for strength (Psalm 138:3; Ephesians 3:16).
Expect God to act (Mark 11:24).
Step out in faith, trusting His power to meet us in our weakness (Matthew 14:29–31).
5. Practical Application: Walking in God’s Strength
Here are five concrete steps for a believer to walk in this truth.
1) Confess Your Weakness and Renounce Self-Reliance
God’s strength flows where pride is broken.
Regularly acknowledge before God where you are weak—emotionally, physically, spiritually.
Renounce the lie that you must “hold it all together” in your own strength.
Pray like David: “The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).
Practice: Daily, say aloud: “Lord, I am weak, but You are my strength. I choose to rely on You, not on myself.”
2) Receive the Power of the Holy Spirit
If you are born again, the Spirit dwells in you (Romans 8:9), but Scripture also speaks of being filled and empowered (Acts 1:8; Ephesians 5:18).
Ask Jesus to baptize you in the Holy Spirit if you have not yet experienced this empowering (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:4; Acts 19:6).
If you are already Spirit-baptized, continually ask to be filled afresh (Ephesians 5:18; Acts 4:31).
Welcome the gifts of the Spirit; they are manifestations of God’s strength in and through you (1 Corinthians 12:7–11).
Practice: Lay your hand on your own chest and pray: “Holy Spirit, strengthen me with might in my inner man. Fill me afresh with Your power.”
3) Feed on the Word and Obey It
Strength is tied to the Word of God.
Joshua was told that strength and courage would be maintained by meditating on and obeying the law (Joshua 1:7–8).
The Word builds faith (Romans 10:17), and faith connects you to God’s power.
Practice:
Daily read and meditate on Scriptures about God’s strength (e.g., Psalms, Isaiah 40, Ephesians 6).
When you feel weak, speak the Word aloud: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
4) Wait on the Lord in Prayer and Worship
Isaiah 40:31 promises renewed (exchanged) strength to those who wait on the LORD.
Set aside regular time to be still before God, not just talking, but waiting.
Worship shifts your focus from your weakness to His greatness (Psalm 34:3–5).
Practice:
Take 10–20 minutes daily to quietly wait on God, perhaps with worship music, simply focusing on Him and inviting His presence.
Expect Him to refresh and strengthen you—spirit, soul, and body.
5) Step Out in Faith Beyond Your Natural Ability
God’s strength is often released as you move in obedience.
If He leads you to pray for the sick, do it—even if you feel weak or inadequate (Mark 16:17–18).
If He prompts you to share the gospel, step out, trusting His power to give you words (Acts 1:8; Luke 12:12).
If you face a trial, choose to act on the Word rather than on your feelings.
Practice: Ask God, “Where are You calling me to step beyond my own strength?” Then take a concrete step—make the call, pray the prayer, start the ministry, forgive the person—trusting His power to sustain you.
6. Key Scriptures on Strength (with Brief Commentary)
1) 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness… For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
This is the central New Testament revelation: God’s strength is not hindered by our weakness; it is perfected in it. Our weakness, rightly responded to, becomes a platform for divine power.
2) Ephesians 6:10
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.”
We are not told to be strong in ourselves, but in the Lord. This is a command, implying that strength is available. It is especially in the context of spiritual warfare.
3) Isaiah 40:29–31
“He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength… those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength.”
God targets the weak with His power. Waiting on Him is the appointed means of exchanging our weakness for His strength.
4) Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
This is not a slogan for self-confidence; it is a declaration of Christ-confidence. The strengthening is continuous—He keeps on empowering us to face every circumstance.
5) Psalm 27:1
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”
David’s boldness flows from a revelation: God Himself is the strength of his life. Fear is displaced when we see God as our strength.
6) Ephesians 3:16
“That He would grant you… to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man.”
This is a model prayer for believers today. Strength is not merely external success; it is an inner work of the Spirit, enabling Christ to dwell in our hearts by faith (Ephesians 3:17).
7) Habakkuk 3:19
“The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”
God’s strength not only sustains us; it elevates us. He enables us to walk in places and situations that would be impossible in our own ability.
Closing Exhortation
Strength, in the kingdom of God, is not the absence of weakness; it is the presence of God’s power in the midst of it. The Holy Spirit has been given to you to strengthen, empower, and equip you for every good work.
Acknowledge your weakness. Renounce self-reliance. Receive the Spirit’s power. Feed on the Word. Wait on the Lord. Step out in faith.
As you do, you will discover in experience what Scripture declares: “The LORD is the strength of my life” (Psalm 27:1), and “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).