I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit
in your inner being. -Ephesians 3:16 (NIV)
Probably the one thing that I have lacked most often during my life as a special mom is strength. You wouldn’t know it, because I have a strong demeanor. I typically appear unshaken by what the world throws at me and unmoved by disappointment or setbacks.
I’m not a basket case or a bundle of nerves. But there have been so many days since my baby’s diagnosis when I have felt very weak. Seventeen years later, I can tell you that just this week after a failed dental visit, my “inner being” became a deflated balloon.
In Ephesians 3, Paul is not referring to physical strength. He is encouraging his friends to have the strength to remain in Christ. This is the strength and power to comprehend and
then faithfully remember the depth of Christ’s love for us. That is the supernatural power
that is required when we are weak on the inside. The apostle writes of something that
often goes unmentioned and unacknowledged. There is a great depth of weakness that
can occur on the inside, while the outside keeps up appearances. There are times when it
feels like keeping our faith intact is too hard. Carrying on as if there is a good God who is
looking down on me lovingly, watching over me, and blessing me…sometimes I feel as
though I may not have the fortitude it takes to keep that up. That’s OK. It’s the reason for
Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians. Thank God we have this letter so that we know we are
not alone; our generation is not the first to deal with such weakness. Ephesians 3:16 is
what we have as a help so that we can buck up and regain the strength we need. This
promise is what I can read every single morning and know that if I simply close my eyes and ask for strength and power, the Lord will renew and refresh me. I have found
supernatural strength in the midst of the darkest moments, not on my own, but by
recalling this one promise.
Feelings of weakness and defeat are things that will definitely come calling over and over. Issues with my 6 foot tall sweet teenage son are no less likely to surprise or challenge my resolve than they were at the start. However, those feelings of weakness and defeat are easier to overcome, each time, the sooner I remember that I have a promise of strength and power for my inner being. God’s glorious riches are more than enough fuel for my spirit, and they are available to me at all times.
Are your emotions convincing you of a different story? Read Ephesians 3:16–19 aloud to yourself. Tell your emotions they don’t get the final say; rather, God’s Spirit in your inner being will be in charge of your mind and heart today. That is the place where, when all else is weak, you have glorious riches of strength. Tap into that strength and find the power you require.
Melanie’s passion is to share the message with every special needs mom that there is joy, fulfillment and hope in their journey. Married for 24 years, she’s a mom to two young men (20 & 17), the second was born with a rare genetic disorder. Melanie enjoys life in sunny South Florida, but never misses a chance to travel to new or favorite destinations. The Gomezes consider themselves a very well-traveled bunch.
Melanie can be found on Facebook at her page called “Redefine Special” or her blog website, RedefineSpecial.com where she shares encouragement and hope on a regular basis.
