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Strong in the Lord

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. -Ephesians 6:10

Peggy was diagnosed with Lewy body dementia at fifty-seven years old. For nearly a decade, the neurodegenerative disease slowly robbed her of all her physical abilities until she was completely dependent on her husband and daughters for her care.

At her beautiful funeral service, I was initially surprised that the minister chose Ephesians 6:10–18 for the eulogy to describe Peggy’s life. The passage begins, “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.”

How could a woman who couldn’t even feed herself be strong? But perhaps that is exactly the point Paul, the author of Ephesians, was encouraging his readers to understand.

If we solely depend on our own strength to face overwhelming situations, we’re all as seemingly helpless as Peggy in the face of not only disease and discouragement but ultimately the “mighty powers in this dark world” (v. 12) as well.

Yet we’re not defenseless. Even when we appear to be at our weakest, Paul encourages us to put on the armor of God to access power far beyond our physical abilities.

One piece of the spiritual armor is “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (v. 17). It allows us to fight lies, fear, and discouragement with truth from Scripture.

The Bible strengthened Peggy during her most difficult journey. Scripture and the power of God are available to sustain and empower us for whatever we’re facing today.

Lisa Samra

When have you tried to depend on your own strength during a difficult time? How can you depend on God instead?

Dear Jesus, in my weakness, help me not to depend on my own strength but to realize I have access to Your mighty power when I put on the spiritual armor of God.