Forged by FireNäide

Have you ever felt completely out of control? Like the situation you’re facing is so far beyond your strength that all you can do is throw up your hands and say, “God, I’ve got nothing”?

If you have, you're not alone.

The Apostle Paul knew what it felt like to be overwhelmed, to feel the weight of despair so heavy that he thought death itself was near. In 2 Corinthians 1:9, he admits that he felt sentenced to death, but he doesn’t stop there. He tells us why God allowed that: so that he would not rely on himself, but on God who raises the dead.

Yesterday, we explored what it means to find inner strength by depending on God. Today, we are exploring how to lean on God like Paul did — how to trust God like Paul did — so we too can tap into the unshakable strength that only comes from God.

When we feel like we’re losing our grip, when circumstances threaten to overwhelm us, or when we face what feels like the “sentence of death” in our lives, we’re invited to shift our trust from ourselves to God. To have faith like Paul, we must surrender our need for control and trust God completely. Then, we’re invited to call upon His strength in moments of weakness. We don’t need elaborate prayers or all the right words. We don’t need words at all. As Romans 8:26-27 shows us, we just need to accept that we are weak without God’s strength and trust that He will provide for us.

God works all things for our good. Though we don’t always believe it, that truth doesn’t change. The process of being “conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29, NIV) isn’t easy, nor is it supposed to be. Every challenge and every surrender is refining us, aligning us more closely with Christ.

So, lean in and let go. Trust God’s plan even when you can’t see the full picture. Strength isn’t about how tightly you hold on; it’s about how deeply you trust the One who never lets go.

God, thank You for being my strength when I am weak. Help me let go of control and trust You completely. Shape me to be more like Jesus each day. I surrender to Your will, knowing You work all things for my good. Amen.