Scripture:
“We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
— 2 Corinthians 4:7
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” — Isaiah 40:31
There are days when strength feels accessible—and days when it feels completely out of reach.
Not because something dramatic happened.
Not because everything fell apart.
But because the weight accumulated quietly.
I’ve had moments where I sat down to do what was required of me and felt the resistance immediately. My mind was tired. My confidence felt thin. And the thought crossed my mind: Maybe I don’t have enough today.
What I’ve learned is that discouragement often doesn’t come from one hard moment—it comes from carrying too much in our own strength for too long.
Paul’s words in Corinthians reframe this beautifully. He doesn’t deny our fragility. He names it. Jars of clay. Ordinary. Limited. Breakable. And yet, he calls what God has placed inside us a treasure.
That contrast matters.
Because the power was never meant to come from the container. It was always meant to come from God.
Somewhere along this journey, it’s easy to believe that strength means self-sufficiency. That if we were more disciplined, more focused, more resilient, we wouldn’t feel this way. But Scripture offers a different definition. Biblical strength is not about never feeling weak—it’s about knowing where renewal comes from.
Isaiah doesn’t say those who push harder will renew their strength.
He says those who hope in the Lord will.
Hope, here, isn’t passive. It’s a posture. A choice to stop drawing from empty reserves and return to the Source. A decision to acknowledge limitation without shame.
And this is where the shift happens.
When I stop asking, Do I have enough?
and start asking, Where am I drawing my strength from?
everything changes.
Today, this Word invites us to release the pressure to manufacture strength and instead receive it. To remember that feeling weak is not a failure—it’s often an invitation to lean more fully on God.
You don’t need to be stronger than you are.
You need to be connected to the One who renews strength daily.
Reflection
Where have you been relying on your own strength lately?
What would it look like to pause and draw from God instead today?
Prayer
God, I confess that there are moments when I try to carry this journey on my own. Teach me to recognize my limits without shame and to return to You for renewal. Let Your strength meet me where mine runs out, and remind me that what You’ve placed inside me is sustained by You. Amen.
Carry This With You Today
Strength is not something you produce — it’s something you receive.