The Strength of Obedienceಮಾದರಿ

This verse is such a powerful reminder that even Christ, the very Son of God, did not exalt Himself. He did not take authority into His own hands or push for His own agenda. Instead, He lived in complete submission to the Father’s will. If Jesus Himself modeled this kind of humility and obedience, how much more should we, as His followers, desire to submit every part of our lives to God’s authority?

I have often been told that I’m “strong-willed.” Maybe you have been told that too! For much of my life, I thought of that label as a negative thing, as though having determination or resolve was a flaw to be overcome. But over time, I have come to realize that being strong-willed is not the problem—it is what or whom I direct that will toward that matters. A strong will submitted to God can be one of the greatest strengths we have as believers!

It takes a strong will to reject Satan’s lies when the world makes them look so appealing. It takes a strong will to keep practicing God’s truth when everything in our culture tells us to do the opposite. And it takes a strong will to choose love when bitterness, anger, or selfishness would be easier. So if you have ever been called stubborn or hard-headed, do not be discouraged! In God’s hands, your strong will can be reshaped into the courage and perseverance needed to live faithfully in a dark world.

Some of the greatest victories in my life required both stubborn determination and full surrender. It sounds like a paradox, doesn’t it? But that is the beautiful way God works! To follow Him, I had to let go of my pride, my fear, and my need for control. That required dying to myself. Yet at the same time, it required a strong will to keep choosing faith, to keep trusting God’s Word, to keep taking steps of obedience when it was hard. That combination—submission and strength—produced freedom and joy I could never have found on my own!

Sisters, do not be afraid of the strong will God has given you. When it is surrendered to Him, it becomes a gift. Christ Himself showed us the way, not by exalting Himself, but by entrusting Himself fully to His Father. And when we follow His example, we discover that true strength is not about forcing our way forward—it is about trusting God enough to let Him lead.

Reflection Question: How can you use your strong will to submit more fully to God’s authority rather than resisting His plans for your life?