Strength Not Our Own

True strength does not come from trying harder; it comes from turning toward God. The psalmist writes, “Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face continually” (Psalm 105:4). God strengthens us through His presence. His face—His nearness—restores what effort cannot. When we allow ourselves to be still before Him, we find that strength flows quietly into places we could never reach by striving.

As we walk with God, we begin to recognize the difference between self-generated strength and God-given strength. At times, we may operate in our own strength for a while—and then we discover its limits. This discovery is not condemnation; it is instruction. When our strength runs out, God invites us to return. “Return to Me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD (Malachi 3:7). The spiritual life is not about never falling—it is about learning to return again and again.

Each return teaches humility. Pride is slowly replaced with dependence. Scripture reminds us, “Though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again” (Proverbs 24:16). Rising does not mean resuming self-effort; it means re-entering God’s presence. The discipline of returning becomes the pathway by which God reshapes the soul.

The great mystery of the Christian life is that God does not merely help us from afar—He dwells within us. “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). God lives at the center of our spirit. We do not need to search outwardly for Him; we need to return inwardly to where He already abides. When we learn to turn back to Him throughout the day, fellowship deepens and life becomes centered.

Surrender becomes essential in this learning. To live by God’s strength, we must release reliance on our own. Jesus said plainly, “Apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). This is not meant to shame us, but to free us. God never intended us to carry life alone. As we surrender outcomes, control, and self-sufficiency, His life begins to flow more freely through us.

This way of living unfolds slowly—little by little. God does not rush the process. He teaches us moment by moment to depend on Him. “As your days, so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25). Today’s grace is for today. Tomorrow’s grace will come tomorrow. Learning to live this way forms a quiet trust in the soul.

Over time, our attachments begin to shift. We cling less to what we can see and more to the God who lives within us. “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Visible supports lose their grip, and unseen fellowship becomes our anchor. God Himself becomes our place of security.

And in that place—hidden, surrendered, and dependent—we discover deep fellowship, peace, and rest. Jesus invites us, “Come to Me… and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28–29). This rest is not escape; it is shared life. It is the peace that comes from no longer carrying what was never meant to be carried alone.

Strength not our own is learned through returning. Life is formed through surrender. And as we continue to come back to God—again and again—we find that His strength quietly becomes our way of living.