(Note: The following message is a companion article to a message which originally aired on Autism One Radio. To hear the broadcast at any time, please go to:
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GAINING THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.
(Psalm 46:1-2, NIV)

LIKE MOST PARENTS of children with special needs, I remember the day that our son Nicholas was diagnosed with autism. It seemed as though everything crumbled. This passage describes it well: the earth gave way and the mountains fell into the heart of the sea. It felt as though the strength had been sucked out of my bones. I was overwhelmed by the heartache, grief, questioning why and how, and questioning the future. Life took a drastic turn that day.

Jack and I began praying harder than we ever had. Though we both felt weak and weighed down by all the implications of a diagnosis of autism, we knew that if we were to regain our strength to face the days ahead, it would have to come from the Lord. And God came through. Little by little, as those first weeks turned to months, we felt ourselves gaining more strength not only to face our situation, but to rejoice in what we saw the Lord doing. We found that God was indeed our refuge and our strength and that He truly was an ever-present help in our darkest days of trouble.

We have come to the place where we can say that we are grateful for every step of the path God has led us on, even though that path has included autism. Does that mean we stop fighting for our son? No! We continue to do all we can to reclaim our precious Nicholas from his confines. But what is does mean is that we have had a rare opportunity to understand the incredible grace and provision of God. Day by day we have seen God work miracles—miracles we would have never otherwise seen. We have seen God provide for our needs. He has made a way where we could not see our next step. And we have seen Nicholas slowly but surely emerging into “our world.”

In II Corinthians 12:9-10 Paul says something amazing: “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

It is through our very weaknesses and infirmities that we are able gain the strength of God! Isaiah 40:29 puts it this way, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Strange as it may seem, when we encounter places in our lives that are places of weakness, infirmity, and weariness, we are in the best position to tap into the strength of God.

Gaining the strength of God, however, is not an automatic occurrence. According to Scripture, we tap into God’s strength by seeking Him (1 Chronicles 16:11), observing His commandments (Deuteronomy 11:8), loving Him (Psalm 18:1-2), and praising Him (Exodus 15:2). These are the secrets to gaining God’s strength. But, if we are willing to do these things, we gain strength in the following ways:

1. STRENGTH FOR ALL OUR DAYS
“The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days” (Deuteronomy 33:25). God has promised that His strength will be available to us for all the days of our lives.

2. STRENGTH FOR OUR HEART
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26). Here we are talking about two kinds of strength—strength for our physical heart and well-being, and strength so that we don’t lose heart in facing the challenges that lie before us.

3. STRENGTH TO OVERCOME FEAR
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). God gives us the strength to handle our fear and dismay not only for today, but our fear for what the future holds.

4. STRENGTH TO OVERCOME GRIEF
“Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). There are many places in the Bible where strength and joy are linked, and it is through the joy of the Lord that we are able to overcome the grief in our lives.

5. STRENGTH FOR THE BATTLE
“You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet” (Psalm 18:39). There are many battles we must face as parents of children with autism. As long as we are living in obedience to the Lord, He will give us the strength we need for every battle we encounter.

6. STRENGTH TO CROSS OVER AND POSSESS
“Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess” (Deuteronomy 11:8). God has given every one of us an inheritance to possess. As we observe God’s commandments, He will give us the strength we need to “cross over” from here to there and possess all He intended for us to possess.

7. STRENGTH TO STAY THE COURSE
“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:31). God gives us the strength to overcome weariness in our lives to stay the course He has for us with endurance and vigor.

8. STRENGTH TO ACCOMPLISH
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Not only are we able to overcome obstacles through God’s strength, we are also able to accomplish God’s purposes for us on Earth.

Our prayer for you is that you would gain the strength of God, and live each day going from strength to strength.

With blessings,
Jack and Rebecca Sytsema

©2006, Children of Destiny. All rights reserved.

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GAINING THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD
SCRIPTURE GUIDE

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.
(Exodus 15:2, NIV)

In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling.
(Exodus 15:13, NIV)

Now may the Lord's strength be displayed, just as you have declared:
(Numbers 14:17, NIV)

Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
(Deuteronomy 6:5, NIV)

Observe therefore all the commands I am giving you today, so that you may have the strength to go in and take over the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess,
(Deuteronomy 11:8, NIV)

The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.
(Deuteronomy 33:25, NIV)

David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.
(1 Samuel 30:6, NIV)

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
(1 Chronicles 16:11, NIV)

Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy in his dwelling place.
(1 Chronicles 16:27, NIV)

Wealth and honor come from you; you are the ruler of all things. In your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all.
(1 Chronicles 29:12, NIV)

Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
(Nehemiah 8:10, NIV)

I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
(Psalm 18:1-2, NIV)

It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.
(Psalm 18:32, NIV)

You armed me with strength for battle; you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
(Psalm 18:39, NIV)

But you, O LORD, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me.
(Psalm 22:19, NIV)

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his anointed one.
(Psalm 28:7-8, NIV)

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
(Psalm 29:11, NIV)

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
(Psalm 46:1-2, NIV)

O my Strength, I watch for you; you, O God, are my fortress.
(Psalm 59:9, NIV)

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
(Psalm 73:26, NIV)

Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
(Psalm 81:1, NIV)

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.
(Psalm 84:5, NIV)

They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.
(Psalm 84:7, NIV)

Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
(Psalm 105:4, NIV)

The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
(Psalm 118:14-15, NIV)

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
(Isaiah 12:2-3, NIV)

O LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
(Isaiah 33:2, NIV)

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
(Isaiah 40:29, NIV)

but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
(Isaiah 40:31, NIV)

They will say of me, 'In the LORD alone are righteousness and strength.'" All who have raged against him will come to him and be put to shame.
(Isaiah 45:24, NIV)

Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again.
(Isaiah 52:1, NIV)

I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
(Philippians 4:13, NIV)

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service.
(1 Timothy 1:12, NIV)

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.
(Psalm 119:28, NIV)

Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, "Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution he will come to save you."
(Isaiah 35:3-4, NIV)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
(Isaiah 41:10, NIV)

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,
(Ephesians 3:16, NIV)

May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
(1 Thessalonians 3:13, NIV)

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
(II Thessalonians 3:3, NIV)

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
(2 Corinthians 12:9-10, NKJ)

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