Strength
/Say to those who are of a fearful heart, ‘Be strong, do not fear! Here is your God. -Isaiah 35:4
While on a walk recently, I was listening to a Moth podcast, as I often do while walking. I was listening to a story called, “Alone Across the Arctic,” told by Pam Flowers about her 2500 mile trek across Arctic America, which was the longest solo dog sled trek by a woman in recorded history.
Pam tried very hard to find sponsors for her significant adventure, but found little support. No one thought that she and her rag-tag dog team had a chance of making it. So she ended up borrowing the money she needed to do the trek, and set out. She talks about her need to shed the doubt planted in her by those who did not support her. She told herself that they just didn’t understand what she feels when she is out on the tundra:
“I’m looking at the sun in the western sky, and I’m looking at the Arctic ocean and this giant sheet if ice, and all of this land frozen, and I think about the power it took to make that happen. My dogs and I have the same stuff in us as what’s in all of that. And when I look at that, I don’t feel small. I don’t feel weak. I feel full of power, like I can do anything.”
I heard her words and I thought to myself: that’s what faith looks like. Knowing that what seems impossible is not impossible with God, and so moving forward anyway. Trusting in Christ’s strength, and acting on faith that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.
The Arctic Tundra showed Pam Flowers the power of God. What or who shows you? Where have you felt connected to God in your life? When has God’s strength gotten you through something you never thought you could do? When you are afraid, what reminds you that there is nothing to fear?
