When Our Strength Fades, Christ’s Strength Fills in Perfectly
- yolanditacolononli
- Aug 1
- 5 min read
“Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!”
(Psalm 27:14, ESV)
Sometimes you pray with bold declarations, faith soaring high, fully expecting God to answer swiftly. Yet the wait stretches on beyond what feels humanly bearable. In that silence, weakness creeps in. Discouragement settles like a shadow, and though you’ve spoken God’s Word aloud with faith, things don’t change. It seems like He isn’t listening.
You begin to question: Does God really care? Has He forgotten me?
Your body grows heavy under the weight of bills, family tensions, health worries, disappointments, and confusion. Emotionally exhausted, you can’t think straight—seemingly stuck in a tunnel with no end in sight. Your faith feels paralyzed, wavering between hope and despair.
Even though you know in your soul that God is sovereign, that His character is perfect, and that He will answer—one day—it feels like an eternity to your human mind.
You start asking:
Why does it feel like God is late?
Why do I pray and declare His promises, but see the opposite?
For example: You’ve been trying to find a good-paying job where you can help people and make a difference. But for almost a year, everywhere you turn you're met with a “no hire” sign. You wonder.
You asked God to heal your loved one, but instead, they’re getting worse. You asked God for help with your finances, but you're still late on your rent or mortgage, struggling with mounting bills and living in survival mode.
"This doesn’t feel like a life that brings any glory or honor to God," you say.
Why is this happening? Is it punishment? A lack of faith? Is it my fault? Did I do something wrong? What is God trying to tell me? I can’t figure it out, and I feel dumb for not knowing—despite my years walking with the Lord.
Is God trying to show me something? Teach me something? Break something in me?
I don’t even know anymore. Why is God so silent? Or is it me—am I not tuned in to His voice? What in the world is happening here?? I’m just so tired of all this.
Have you ever felt this way? Gone through this? Said things like this? You are not alone.
Real People, Real Pain — The Psalms Echo Our Hearts
You’re not the only one who has wrestled with God's timing or felt crushed by His silence. The psalmists poured out raw, honest prayers that mirror our own.
Psalm 13:1 – David cried, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?”
Psalm 42:3 – “My tears have been my food day and night… Where is your God?”
Psalm 40:1–3 – “I waited patiently… He heard my cry… He set my feet upon a rock.”
Psalm 88 – One of the darkest psalms—ending without resolution. Yet even in that deep darkness, the psalmist clings to God.
These are not prayers void of faith—they are faithful ones. The psalmists teach us that God welcomes our questions. He is not offended by our human weakness; in fact, He is close to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18).
Scripture Speaks: “My Power is Made Perfect in Weakness”
One of the most powerful truths in Scripture is that God's strength often shows up in our weakest moments. The Apostle Paul understood this deeply when he wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:9–10:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
God didn’t take away Paul’s struggle. Instead, He gave him strength to keep going—and through that, God’s power was made perfect. In other words, God’s power was seen more clearly in Paul’s life.
What does “God’s power was made perfect” mean?
When the Bible says, “God’s power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9), it doesn’t mean that God’s power becomes stronger—because He’s already all-powerful. Instead, it means that His power is more clearly seen and fully displayed when we are weak.
Here's how to understand it:
When everything is going great and we feel strong, people might think we’re doing well because of our own ability.
But when we’re struggling, tired, or feel like giving up—and yet we still have peace, strength, or hope—that’s when people see it’s not us. It’s God working through us.
Our weakness becomes a spotlight that shows God’s strength.
A simple example:
Think of a flashlight in the middle of the day—it’s hard to see its light. But turn it on in the dark, and suddenly, the light shines brightly.
Our weakness is like that darkness, and God’s power is the light that shines clearly when we have nothing left to give.
So, when Paul said “God’s power is made perfect in weakness,” he was saying:
“When I’m at my lowest, that’s when God shows up the strongest—and people can see that it’s Him, not me.”
This truth is seen in:
Judges 7:2 – God reduced Gideon’s army so the victory would clearly be His.
1 Corinthians 1:27–29 – God chooses the weak and foolish to shame the strong and wise.
Isaiah 40:29–31 – God gives power to the faint; those who wait upon Him will renew their strength.
Hebrews 11:32–34 – The heroes of faith were made strong out of weakness.
Why God Might Seem to Delay—and the Purpose in It
Waiting on God is hard. It tests our patience, stretches our faith, and can stir confusion. But God’s delays are not denials. They are often divine setups for transformation and greater glory to His name.
1 Peter 1:6–7 – Trials refine our faith like fire purifies gold.
Romans 5:3–5 – Suffering produces perseverance, which shapes character, which births hope.
Psalm 119:71 – “It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees.”
No, delays don’t mean God is indifferent. They mean He’s doing something deeper than comfort ever could. He’s forming endurance, shaping humility, and building a stronger you.
When Nothing Makes Sense, This Still Stands True
When your circumstances scream confusion and your faith feels fragile, hold fast to these unchanging truths:
Your pain has purpose—even when you can’t see it right now.
Your faith isn’t failing just because you feel tired or disappointed.
Your prayers are heard—God treasures every tear (Psalm 56:8).
Your weakness is a holy invitation for God to show Himself strong in you. It’s the very place where God wants to pour out His strength.
You may feel forgotten, worn down, even ashamed that your life doesn’t seem to “prosper.” But your story isn’t over yet. You are making history and establishing a legacy of faith. In your weakness, God’s power can and will be revealed.
So even if your voice is weak—just a whisper—say it:“Lord, I still believe.”
Not because your circumstances have changed, but because God’s character never fails.
Hold on, child of God. Even in this darkness, He is at work. In the meantime, trust and praise Him with whatever strength you have, for He is your strength and your ever-present help in times of trouble.
Keep believing. Keep commanding that mountain to move—in Jesus’ mighty name.
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear…” (Psalm 46:1–2, ESV)
“The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:25–26, ESV)
Embracing a Deeper Journey … with the Almighty I AM
Yolandita Colón