INNER STRENGTH, Part 3
Here are more discoveries I have made on the inner strength God has promised.
- God’s strength is lasting even through hard times.
- God’s strength is often in the quietness and stillness.
- God’s strength brings renewed energy, a “new set of wings.”
- God’s strength is generous when I am generous and helpful to others.
As we were beginning NBC Basketball Camps years ago, I was day and night in the promotion business. I do remember this humbling experience. Expecting to have just enough gas in my car to reach my destination, I plowed on. However, within a few minutes, my gas gauge indicated differently.
I was forced to stop my car and walk up to a nearby travel camper. Timidly I knocked on the door.
A male voice yelled, ”What do you want?”
“Sorry to bother you, but I need some gas,” I replied.
Within seconds, a small, wiry man came through the open door, pulling a shirt on with a big dog following him.
“Need some gas, huh?” With a swipe of his arm, he grabbed a black hose and siphoned all the gas he had into a five-gallon can. That gave me hope!
When I reached for my wallet, the man said, “Oh no you don’t! You aren’t paying for this.”
Yes, I wanted to be generous because he had helped me. However, reaching into my billfold, I discovered no cash. The credit card would not help either. Yet I remembered I was given a $50 check for speaking a couple days before, and, amazingly, that check was still in the billfold.
“Sir, I don’t know how to tell you this. I spoke in Astoria the other day. When they paid me, I promised the Lord I would give it to someone in need. I had no idea you would be the person, but I really believe I should give it to you.”
His response: “Mom, come out here quickly! This man just gave me money!”
It turned out this couple had left Alaska and came to Oregon looking for work with only $25 to their name. To unknowingly be a monetary encouragement to ones who had helped me was a big blessing. Yet, God became the bigger blessing since He then gave me His generous strength and gas to complete my promotion trip in response to my seeming generosity.
