There are so many women who are doing hard things, for extended times, and often with little support. Family relationships and difficult life-altering health issues; parenting and wishing to be a parent; consequences of things out of their control but impacting daily; grief and recovery.
So many women (men too, of course), so many things. We can look to our friend, neighbor, cousin, sister and think, How does she do this day in and day out? Where does she get the stamina, the strength, the endurance to keep doing and loving and honoring? What’s her power source?
I read the answer just this week. The answer I want and hope for myself and for you … not the same context but the same answer. The only power source. It’s in Acts 4.1-12
In Acts 4.7 the Jewish leadership are demanding of the apostles Peter and John “By what power or by what name did you do this?” The “this” is having healed a crippled man the day before. And the demanding is because those leaders are feeling threatened by the sparks flying as people witness a miracle done in the name of Jesus. Because they cannot discount the miracle witnessed by so many people, Jewish leaders are looking for a way to discount the apostles’ words … “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!” Acts 3.5
By what power or by what name did you do this?
The apostle Peter gives the only answer: “… let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, who God raised from the dead – by HIM this man is standing before you well.” Acts 4.10 (emphasis mine)
And so the Holy Spirit has laid on my heart … it is by calling on the name of Jesus that we are empowered, strengthened, fortified to do this next hard thing, hard day, hard conversation.
How does she do it? By calling on the name of her Savior, only Jesus Christ! Amen and amen!
Praying for the joy of the Lord to be your strength, Colleen