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You are here: Home / Devotional / Margaret Clarkson on Human Weakness and the Power of God

Margaret Clarkson on Human Weakness and the Power of God

May 22, 2020 by Christina

“God teaches His children that human strength offers less security than spiritual strength, for the weakness of God is stronger than men’s strength, and His strength is perfected in our weakness. No man will prevail by mortal strength, He tells us, but we are able to do all things through the strengthening of Christ. The race is not won by the swift, not the battle by the strong, but by the power of God those who stumble are girded with strength. Mighty men are no delivered by much strength, but Scriptural story abounds with the exploits of those “who through faith . . . out of weakness were made strong.” Since God is the God of our strength, why should even the weakest of saints go mourning because of the oppression of his soul? (1 Corinthians 1:25; 2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Samuel 2:9; Philippians 4:13; Ecclesiastes 9:11; 1 Samuel 2:4; Psalms 33:16; Hebrews 11:33-34; Psalms 43:2)”

“Paul tells us one reason why God allows the pressures of weakness to bear down on us. “We were pressed out of measure, above strength,” he writes, “. . . that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God.” As long as we have one ounce of our own strength in which to trust, our human hearts will place our confidence there, even through we sometimes do it unconsciously; but God wants us to prove Him, to be strengthened with all might by His Spirit according to His glorious power. When we truly realize it is God who has girded us for the battles of life, we are able to cry exultantly, “O my soul, thou hast trodden down strength!” for we know that in Him we have not only strength for our needs, but strength to spare. And it is so that His people may glorify Him in learning these truths and living triumphantly by His power that sometimes takes our human strength away.” (2 Corinthians 1:8-9; Colossians 1:11; Ephesians 3:16; 2 Samuel 22:40; Judges 5:21). ”

My God Shall Be My Strength
Isaiah 49:5

My God shall be my strength
Throughout my pilgrim way;
My sure defence, my guard, my guide
 My shield and stay; 
Secure in Him my heart is strong
And lifts aloft faith's triumph-song.

My God shall be my strength
Though fierce may be the foe; 
No hosts of hell my trusting soul
Shall overthrow:
Through Christ I conquer: by His power
I triumph in the evil hour.

My God shall be my strength
Though flesh and heart may fail; 
O'er want and weakness by His might
I shall prevail. 
In Christ I triumph over pain
And rise to face the foe again. 

My God shall be my strength
In sorrow's bitter hour; 
In loneliness and loss I plead
His sovereign power.
No harm can pass His perfect will,
And in His love my heart is still. 

My God shall be my strength
When death shall press his claim,
When languishing in weakness lies
This mortal frame:
Through Christ triumphant I shall rise
To sing His grace in Paradise. 

Source: Margaret Clarkson, Grace Grows Best in Winter, Grand Rapids Michigan, WM B Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1984. (pages 166; 170-171)

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