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Now strengthen my hands.

I can think of specific seasons, particularly when my sons were little, that simple prayers were my fastest track to accessing much-needed divine strength. This early stage of my children’s development left me feeling worn out. Of course, I loved them to pieces but those first years being at home with young ones exhausted my spirit.

“Do you really need a snack AGAIN? You just ate!” (insert eye-roll)

I recently found some journal entries from that season and am so thankful for those written memories. They have become precious reminders that children don’t stay little forever and that the struggle I felt as a young mom was temporary. I often wonder if I would have those memories if I hadn’t written them down. (#MomBrain)

One of my favorite Bible heroes is Nehemiah. I love how he was in the battle to protect the life of his people. He knew that there was no way he could manage this immense task without calling on the God of the Universe. The chips were stacked pretty high against him. In Nehemiah 6:9, he cried out to God, “Now strengthen my hands.” God faithfully showed up for Nehemiah and gave him the wisdom, energy, and strength he needed for this difficult work.

When encountering various challenges, we can “tap out,” or we can ask the God of all creation to strengthen our hands. We can lean on the One who gives us more wisdom, more courage, and more strength in times of our greatest need.

You can return to Him again and again about the SAME struggle. In Isaiah 40, God reminds us of that. He is able to renew our strength. The beauty is, He never gets tired of hearing us ask for help. As our loving Father, He wants to help us. No matter what we face in life, those four prayer words, “Now strengthen my hands,” can be a pressure release point for our souls.

Reflection

Where do you need more of God’s strength today? Take a minute to settle in, invite God’s presence into your space, and then reflect on the following prayer.

Prayer

Lord, strengthen our hands today. We are so thankful that we can cry out to You and know that You not only hear us but love us deeply and will see us through whatever lies ahead. Thank You for your faithfulness. Amen.

By Patriece Fraser McPeak