Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
The Lord will never ask of you something that He cannot handle through you. Before this time next year you will face painful trials, life-changing losses, and seemingly insurmountable tasks. Along with the arrival of these devastating and difficult obstacles will come the temptations to blame God, to declare defeat, or to handle them on your own. The Christian who can faithfully crucify his flesh, placing no confidence in self, but wholeheartedly handover all anxiety and concern to the Lord, will find that he too can do all things through Christ who strengthens him.
This is one of the privileges and honors of being counted among the children of God. If you are faithfully walking in His commandments and living a life that is honorable to Him, you have full confidence that His strength is with you. Where you fail, He overcomes; where you loose heart, He strengthens, and where you give in, He takes over.
To rest in His strength, however, you must be walking in obedience. For the Lord prepares a way of escape with every temptation and trial, but to the one who forges ahead, ignoring the voice of his Lord, the consequences will be unavoidable. To the one who selfishly lands himself in the midst of sinful guilt and pain, there is a wall built up between him and the strength of the Lord. Once lost within this jungle of sin, the only way out is a repentful heart and a contrite spirit. It is then that you will find the Lord’s strength returned to your weakened body. And it is only then that you will find you can do all things through Him who strengthens you.