“God Gives His Toughest Battles To?…”

“God gives His toughest battles to His strongest soldiers.”

The first time I heard this statement, my subconscious gave a ‘bombastic side-eye.’

I can’t say why I had such a negative visceral reaction to it; I just know that it rubbed me wrongly. I’ve had reason to think about it more deeply (I even did a little research on the possible origin) and I think I understand the visceral ‘bombastic side-eye’ now.

“Consider it nothing but joy… whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith… produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity and inner peace]. And let endurance have its perfect result and do a thorough work, so that you may be perfect and completely developed… lacking nothing.”

(James 1:2-4, AMP [paraphrased])

We see from the above verses that reason why we go through difficult times or ‘battles’ is not because God wants to test our strength. It’s actually because He wants to build our strength. It’s not about your strength (I don’t know about you, but I have so little of my own). It’s not about you.

God knows our “feeble” frame (Psalms 103:14) and will never allow what would destroy us come our way (1 Corinthians 10:13). When difficult times roll around, God is not expecting us to face them with our limited strength. He expects us lean even more on Him and depend on His strength.

Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane, and through all the terrible things He encountered, probably faced battles no other human would ever face. Yet He was able to pull through because He trusted in God to take Him through it all just fine (Psalms 16:10). The same Spirit that was at work in Jesus is alive in us (Romans 8:11).

There is an endless supply of strength in God. In difficult times, we must learn to lean on God the more and trust in His strength to get us through our trials. That’s how we become stronger and mature more into the person God wants us to be – the very image of Christ.

“And He said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

(2 Corinthians 12:9, KJV)

Though we’re weak in ourselves and can only go through so much, there is a lot of strength available when we rely on God’s strength as we pass through the fire that’s processing us into pure gold.

Are you going through tough stuff? I can’t promise you that the tough times won’t last. They just might. I can however promise you that God is not trying to test your human strength. I can also promise you that you’ll outlast those tough times and come out stronger if you rely on God’s strength.

I love you. The host of heaven is cheering you on. Don’t lose faith in God.