Strength

DEVOTION

PROVERBS

STRENGTH

Prov 24:10

10 If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!

NIV

Certainly we would what to define what trouble is in order to get a handle on this truth. In the original language it carries the meaning of distress, or tribulation. The word is also used for a rival wife. It might seem this would be the right meaning in the time of Solomon as he has many wives. However that system of many wives has long gone with men like Solomon. So today we have no rival wives to deal with, but we do have troubles. We have times of distress. We have times of tribulation. What we do, how we live in those times defines who we are. If we buckle under the times of distress then we have small strength. But what kind of strength is also in question. The original word is used in a variety of ways. It is used for human strength as the strength for lifting a heavy weight. It is used in the same way for the strength of animals. It is also used for the strength of angels, as well as for the power of God. Here is how this could apply to us. When we are in times of distress or difficult times and we falter, it could mean we have little faith in God. It is easy to have faith in God when life is full of success. Our faith is not tested at all when everything is going perfectly. When we have more than enough money, extremely good health and enjoy all the fruits of our labor it is so simple to believe God has blessed us. But what happens when something goes wrong? What happens when we lose a job? What happens when we go through hard times? What happens if everything we have is wiped away by a storm or fire or other natural disaster? What happens if we lose a loved one? Do we falter or do we continue to have a strong unwavering faith in God? What is the strength of our faith?