“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; In whose heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs; Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings. They go from strength to strength; Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.”
A great miracle that I have seen in my life is to experience the joy and strength of the Lord in times of anguish. It sounds impossible; it even sounds paradoxical, but it’s real. Only God can do that.
There have been times in my life where I know that I would’ve never been able to resist if I had not looked up searching for strength in Christ.
In my time of anguish, naturally, I have cried and even stamped my feet in frustration. I will not portrait myself as super spiritual— floating in the air, always in peace, not capable of having these reactions. In real life that’s not how it happens. Even great prophets of the Bible felt afraid or almost gave up at some point, among other things. One time, the prophet Elijah, hid himself in a cave full of fear and sadness after being persecuted. However, this didn’t pose an impediment for God to reach him and strengthen him so that he could continue his way.
Frustration, fear and anguish are expected responses after we experience pain, oppression or similar situations.
I have too manifested this emotions, but I have also known how to incorporate myself so that I can take refuge in a secret place, where there’s only God and I. That place is the chamber where you hand over everything to God so that He may be the one to guide, to heal and to operate. It’s in that chamber where the birth of your strength takes place and where you equip yourself with the weapons for conquering.
God has a particular way of strengthening you. It’s called the joy of our salvation. That joy is not reserved exclusively to moments of happiness. That joy operates thru your faith in Christ to strengthen you in times of anguish. The strength that gushes from Him is what supports you to be able to resist and wait in Him.
I am fascinated by how this Psalm states: “Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs”.
The Psalmist expressed also in another time: “weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:5
In God, your tears, do not hit the floor. God gathers them, feels the pain with you, and then transforms them into a refreshing and renewing spring.
I am fascinated even more by the fact that this Psalms says: “They go from strength to strength; Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.”
That spring that God has formed with your tears is a resource so that you can travel the road that awaits with victory. When we put our strength in God, we can climb from glory to glory, no matter what happens in between; we do not turn back. God is the one who leads us. You will be surprised to finally see the hand of God work in your favor, your head anointed with oil and your cup overflowing.
Blessed are those whose strength is in Him!
