Being Strong in Christ

2 Timothy 2:1

Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

Strength is never found in times of ease, but it is built in times of adversity and trials. We hear the importance of being strong in Christ Jesus, but we miss one word that tells us how to get the strength. God says, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The word grace means that God gives us the strength, even though we don't deserve it. God's grace does not remove the hard times, but it allows us to be able to endure the hard times. I always like to put it this way: God's grace is the air conditioner that allows us to endure the heat of summer. God's grace is the umbrella that keeps us dry in the times of rain. God's grace is the aspirin that eases the pain. God's grace does not remove the hard times, but it gives us the strength to endure them. In the verses that follow the verse above, we find several things on how God gives us strength in these hard times.

First, strength comes from listening to the preachers from the past. Verse 2 says, And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses… The only way to listen to those witnesses is to listen to those who have been through what you're going through. You will discover by studying and listening to those in the past that they went through the same trials that we go through. Knowing that they faced the same hard times that we are presently facing will give us the strength to know that we can make it just like they did. You'd be very wise to listen and read the preachers from the past if you want strength to make it through your difficult times. Many of these from the past saw God's greatest blessings after the hard times, and by reading and listening to them, we will find that it encourages us that better times are ahead.

Second, you gain strength by building others. Verse 2 continues to say, the same commit thou to faithful men. God gives strength to those who build others. One reason God sends you through hard times is so that you can help others who are facing the same difficulties that you are. It is while you are building others that God gives His strength to flow through you as a conduit to help to build others. You will never gain the strength to endure difficult times if you do not try to build others.

Third, you gain strength by enduring hardness. In other words, God says, Don't quit. Quitters will never discover God’s strength in difficult times. If your first response to difficulties is to quit, you will never have the strength to grow in the Lord and to see Him do the miraculous through your life. Those who determine not to quit no matter what they face gain the strength to become a strong warrior for Christ.

Fourth, you gain strength by striving for the masteries. You build strength by pushing yourself. Have a goal to do something big for God, and you will find that, as you push yourself toward that goal, you will gain the strength you need to make it there. Strength does not come by sitting, but it’s given to those who strive to do something big for God.

Fifth, you gain strength by laboring in the harvest. You will never be strong as a believer if you are not a soul winner. God's purpose for giving you strength is so that you can win souls to Him. If you need to find strength through difficult times, the best thing you can do is grab some tracts and go soul winning. You will find that God gives His strength to those who are laboring to reach the lost at any cost.