Strength to Rise*
So do not fear…for I am your God. I will strengthen you and
help you.
Isaiah 41:10
By the fourth round Carmen had been knocked down more times
than in any other fight. He wasn’t sure he wanted to get back up this time. But
something from deep inside pushed him up from the mat, and he rose to meet his
opponent one more time.
His adversary looked on in amazement as Carmen prepared to reenter
the battle. How can he keep getting up?!
he wondered. I’ve given him my best, and
yet he won’t stay down!
As the referee’s count reached seven, Carmen’s vision
cleared. He saw the look of doubt in his opponent’s eyes…a surge of confidence
welled up within him, for he could see his opponent no longer felt sure of
victory.
In fact, Carmen knocked him out in the sixth round.
In the ensuing interview Carmen was asked how he continued
to get up after receiving such a beating. He answered, “God encourages me to
refuse to stay down when I have the strength to do otherwise. He gives me the strength to rise amidst
the doubt in my mind.”
†
We are endowed with an indomitable spirit. But no one wins
every battle. And sometimes we lose miserably. But in the getting knocked down
some excel where others need not fail because they refuse to stay down.
Because of the nature of sin, we lose some of the spiritual
battles we fight. But we need not give up or concede defeat. Carmen won more
battles than he lost because he never stayed on the mat once he became conscious
of his surroundings. We too can rise from what appears to be obvious defeat.
In their song, “What Faith Can Do” Christian recording
artists, Kutless begin and end the song by encouraging us to find the strength to rise and make a new
beginning. Their premise is anchored in faith…a faith anchored in God’s strength and ability to see us
through this life.
If we hang on to God, we will
find the strength to rise no matter how many times we get knocked down.
Prayer
“Lead me to a place
of confidence in You where my battles are concerned, LORD. Help me rise in Your great strength. Amen.”
*Inspired by the Song,
What Faith Can Do by Christian
recording artists, Kutless
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