External strength may impress others, but inner strength is what sustains you in spiritual warfare.
The Strength You Really Need
As we come out of Memorial Day—a time when we pause to honor those who carried burdens we may never fully see—I think a lot about what strength really looks like.
We spend so much time trying to look strong—lifting weights, powering through meetings, keeping a calm face at family functions.
But real strength—the kind that holds you together when everything else is falling apart—is built within.
Jesus had that kind of strength. On the road to the cross, when betrayal was fresh and pressure was mounting, He didn’t lash out or fall apart. He stood still. Silent. Secure.
That kind of quiet strength isn’t always noticed. But it’s what gets you through.
Strength in Stillness
There’s a breed of sheep in the Middle East called the Awassi lamb. It lives in rough climates—dry, demanding, hard. But it thrives. It’s calm, adaptable, and productive. Built for pressure.
I think about that lamb sometimes when I picture what Jesus carried with Him on the way to the cross. He didn’t flinch. He didn’t fight. He just kept walking, calm and composed, even when the world around Him was chaos.
How I’m Learning to Build Inner Strength
Prayer in the Spirit
Sometimes I don’t even have the words—I’m just groaning, or journaling, or sitting in silence. But I’ve come to believe the Holy Spirit still hears that. He intercedes when I can’t articulate.
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit.” – Jude 1:20 (NKJV)
That kind of prayer reminds me: even if I feel wobbly on the outside, I can be held steady from within.
Strong Associations
I’ve learned that I can’t stay strong if I’m surrounded by people who fall apart at the first sign of trouble.
- Pray when it’s hard.
- Praise even when it hurts.
- Get back up—again and again.
There’s a kind of quiet fire in people like that. It spreads.
Real Soul Talk
One of the hardest voices to fight is your own. Sometimes it’s not what others said—it’s what I’ve whispered to myself when no one else could hear.
I’m learning to speak truth back into my soul:
- “I am anointed for this.”
- “God is with me.”
- “This pain has a purpose.”
It’s not always easy, and it doesn’t always feel convincing. But I speak it anyway.
Quiet Endurance
Some battles aren’t meant to be fought loud. I’ve had to remind myself that silence doesn’t mean weakness. Sometimes it’s wisdom. Sometimes it’s trust.
The enemy loves when I react. But there’s something holy in holding your peace—and letting God fight for you behind the scenes.
What They Didn’t See
Right before I left my last job, I made a post for my 35th birthday. I listed some of the things I had accomplished that year—18 years of military service, a promotion, a doctorate, starting my first book, prepping for another move. It looked like I was thriving.
But what they didn’t see was how much of that I did quietly. I didn’t broadcast every late night, every wrestle with doubt, every moment I wanted to give up. I wasn’t trying to prove anything—I just kept going. I was focused. Quiet. Intentional.
Then, on one of my hardest days—just a couple weeks before my last day—a coworker stopped me.
She told me I was being too humble. That I was dimming my light. That I didn’t need to downplay what God was doing through me.
She said, “You’ve been doing the work without making noise. And you’re still shining.”
She reminded me—just like my mom had—that I didn’t need to become louder to be more worthy. The strength was already there.
That moment stayed with me. Because sometimes we assume we’re supposed to push harder, speak up more, assert ourselves to be taken seriously.
But what if strength is also choosing the quiet path—and trusting that the fruit will speak for itself?
Things I’m Asking Myself Right Now
- Am I feeding my inner strength—or just maintaining an outward image?
- Who are the people in my life that truly make me stronger?
- What can I say to myself today that will build my spirit?
- Where am I shrinking when I should be shining?
- Who reminds me of what God has placed in me—and have I really listened?
A Quiet Prayer
God,
Teach me how to grow strong in the places no one sees.
Build up my spirit when I feel fragile.
Let my prayers go deeper, my circle grow stronger, and my words speak life.
Help me hold my peace when the fight is loud.
Shape me into someone who doesn’t just look strong—but is strong in You.
And may my strength quietly honor those who gave theirs.
Amen.
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