Knowing God and Displaying Strength

 By: Rebekah Hargraves

Photo Courtesy Of: Michael Dziedzic

"The people who know their God will be strong and take action."

~Daniel 11:32b

I once heard a mentor of mine, Sally Clarkson, quote this verse on her podcast, and it really stuck with me. At the time of this writing, my family and I are now quickly approaching a deployment season for my husband. And this verse? Well, it feels like the perfect one for this time in our lives, as we approach our first deployment.

Because if I hope to not only endure this season, but to actually thrive in the midst of it, I’m going to have to rehearse to myself what I know to be true about my God. I’ve said before that the key to being able to trust God is knowing the character of God - because you can’t trust someone you don’t know.

Military wives such as myself are commonly told things like, “Wow, you’re so strong!”, “I could never do what you do.”, and “I don’t know how you do it!”.

But here’s the thing: military wives are no stronger than any other kind of wife on their own.

Sure, we can try to muster our way through, we can put on a brave face, we can stuff our raging emotions, and we can try to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps. But eventually we will hit a wall.

So, as I approach the days and months ahead and all that they will hold, I’m determining now to not make the mistake of relying on myself during this season (a dedication I will no doubt repeatedly have to keep coming back to!). Instead, I will rely on my God and the knowledge I have of who He is.

Will you join me? I don't know what you might be going through yourself in this particular season of your own life, but I can bet that it's something challenging - after all, we're still doing life in a fallen world! You, too, have a choice set before you: will you rely on yourself or will you rely on your God? Will you spend your time on lesser pursuits of scrolling social media and binging Netflix as a way to dull the pain and distract you from the struggle, or will you spend time getting to know your God better?

Because those who know their God and His character will be strong. And they will take action. May that choice be the one you and I make today and every day.