Access to Strength

The Lord said to Gideon, "You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her...The LORD said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands."  Judges 7:2, 7

Gideon had to reduce the army from 32,000 to 300! Can you imagine fighting and winning a battle with 300 men? It was God's battle, something we forget all too quickly.  We feel alone, like no one is helping us.  Can you imagine having an army of 32,000?  I mean, the support would feel amazing.  It would feel as though you could conquer everything.  BUT maybe you are dealing with only 300?   Or maybe it's just you? Think of how Gideon must have initially felt:  What? You want me to win a battle with only these few?  God wants to get all the glory, honor, and praise for any victory in a battle or a restored marriage. Only God's presence and His power can guarantee any victory for His people.

So remember--nothing is too hard for God. Where does your strength come from? Ask the Lord for strength. You may feel alone, but you have the strength of God on your side, and that is all you need.  BUT you must ask for it. 

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to stand on the heights. Psalm 18:32-33

The Lord's strength is never too far we just need to ask Him for it.  And we can do more than we could ever imagine, but it's not about how bad the circumstances are or how bad you feel.  This is about a God that can do the impossible.


I can do everything through him who gives me strength.  Philippians 4:13

Are you tired of waiting for your spouse to break off a relationship with the other person? Are your family and friends telling you to, "Get on with your life?" Are you tired of the fighting, the pain, the rejection and all that goes with adultery, separation or divorce?  Are you tired of the never ending fights? Are you tired of the lack of joy?

I (Serena) think about what it was like when Josh was gone.  Was it easier? Was it better without him?  Oh, sure the source of pain was gone, but the pain was still there. The hurt, the rejection, the questions they were all still there. I am not sure why the world makes it seem that it is going to be better when you are by yourself or alone with your children. You will be responsible for everything!  We have a few friends who are contemplating divorce or have just gone through it, and I do not find that their lives some how got easier.  In fact, I would venture to say it's a lot harder.  And a few of them are years down the road and STILL have hurts that have never been fully healed.  So, this is a lie....it's not easier.  It may feel that way, but it won't last.  So, we aren't saying that standing for your marriage to be restored is easy, but it's that the pain won't get easier just because you get a divorce.

I (Serena) was asked the other day if I would really stand for my marriage if my story were uglier.  God forbid it had been uglier, but I know many of you are going through much worse than I ever did.  AND some of you may be going through less than I did. Pain is pain when it runs deep, and we are never quick to minimize the pain that people feel.  If you are going through something less horrific than we did ..... it STILL hurts.  AND if you are going through something worse than we did..... it STILL hurts.  God's strength is the ONLY thing that can bring you through this hurt, and God is the ONLY one who can put the pieces back together.  So, it doesn't matter how bad it is....God's strength is what you need.  So, if I were to have gone through something worse I would still need to access God's strength.  

O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.  Isaiah 33:2

God wants to restore marriage by His strength and power, not by our plans, our manipulations, our begging and pleading to our spouse. Our spouses need to know that our marriage can only be rebuilt by the TRUE HEALER or it will not last.  Access His strength!

Josh and Serena