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There is a temptation—subtle but strong—to lean on our own strength, to fix, force, and make things happen by the sheer force of our abilities, resources, and networks. It feels responsible. It feels necessary. And yet, it is the oldest deception—one that whispers, You must find a way; you must make it work.

We live in a world that glorifies self-sufficiency. Independence is praised, and reliance on others is often seen as weakness. The pressure to perform, to make things happen, can weigh heavily on our hearts. Yet, Scripture offers a counter-intuitive truth: victory does not come from human effort but from divine power.

Abraham faced this very test. Romans 4 tells us that,

“He did not consider his own body, already as good as dead, nor the barrenness of Sarah’s womb.”

He knew he was insufficient. Instead, he chose to look to God. He chose to believe. He chose to trust the impossible over the reasonable, the supernatural over the logical.

Faith is not mere optimism. Faith is stepping out onto water, knowing you should sink—yet believing that if you keep your eyes on Jesus, the water will hold. Faith is an act of defiance against the visible, an insistence that the unseen is more real than the seen.

The enemy wants you to toil, to strive, to exhaust yourself trying to do what only God can do. But Zechariah 4:6 silences that lie with a single declaration:

“Not by [your] might, nor by [your] power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts.”

There comes a moment in every journey when you must make a choice: Will you continue struggling in your own strength, relying solely on your limited resources, or will you yield to the Spirit of God, trusting in His infinite power? If you insist on doing it all in your own strength, you will inevitably reach a point of burnout or break. The weight of your own efforts will become too much to bear. But when you surrender, when you embrace the strength that only the Spirit can provide, you unlock a new realm of possibility—one where you are sustained, empowered, and carried beyond your limits.

What if we choose to rely solely on our own strength and resources? By doing so, we are confining ourselves to the limits of what we can offer—our own abilities, talents, and understanding. At times, that may seem sufficient to navigate life’s challenges, but there will always be moments when it simply falls short. In those times, whether we recognise it or not, God is gently teaching us to release our grip on what we think we can control and begin to trust in what only He can do. This is why He wants us to transition from relying on our own strength to embracing the power of His Spirit, which is able to do “exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). In this surrender, we discover a deeper, more expansive potential—one that propels us forward in ways we could never have imagined. God’s grace allows us to go further, much further, than our own strength ever could.

The Israelites stood at the edge of the Red Sea with Pharaoh’s army pressing in behind them. Panic, fear, and the urge to act must have gripped their hearts. And yet, God spoke through Moses:

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.“ (Exodus 14:14)

Be still? When the enemy is advancing? When time is running out? When every instinct screams, Do something!? Yet, that is the divine paradox: Trusting God often looks like standing still when everything within you wants to run.

The same call echoes through the ages. Stop striving. Stop running. Stop fighting in your own strength. Stop freezing in fear. Lift your eyes.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

God is not asking you to do more; He is asking you to trust more. There is a greater power at work—not your own, but His Spirit moving in ways you cannot yet see.

So what does this mean for you? This is not about giving up, but about tapping into something much bigger than yourself!

It means you can stop striving and start surrendering. It means you can lay down your burdens, your anxieties, your desperate need to control. It means you can stand in faith, even when circumstances look impossible. Because when God speaks, impossibilities bow.

Let Go, and Let God!

Abraham did not waver in unbelief. The Israelites did not drown in the Red Sea. Peter, for a moment, walked on water. And you? You, too, can walk by faith into the miraculous.

This is the invitation: Stop. Look up. Trust.

The battle is not yours. The answer is not in your hands. Look up—your salvation is drawing near.

CLOSING PRAYER

Heavenly Father,

forgive me for the times I have relied on my own strength instead of Yours. Forgive me for the moments I have tried to control what was never mine to carry, for the times I have trusted in my own wisdom instead of seeking Yours. Too often, I have run ahead of You, trying to force outcomes that only You can bring to pass. Other times, I have hesitated in fear, forgetting that You go before me.

Teach me to trust You completely, to lean not on my own understanding but to acknowledge You in all my ways. Give me the grace to surrender my plans, my fears, and my striving at Your feet. Help me to walk by faith, even when the path is uncertain. Strengthen my heart to stand still when You command, and to move boldly when You lead. Let my life be a testimony of Your power, that others may see and glorify Your name.

Fill me with Your Spirit, Lord. Be my strength where I am weak, my wisdom where I lack understanding, my guide when I cannot see the way. Help me to trust in Your timing, to rest in Your promises, and to stand firm in Your Word. May Your Spirit work in me and through me, shaping me into a vessel for Your glory.

Thank You, Father, for Your unfailing love, for Your patience, and for the assurance that You are always near. I surrender all to You.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. Where in your life have you been striving instead of trusting?
2. What fears make it difficult for you to surrender control to God?
3. How does Abraham’s faith challenge your perspective on waiting and believing?
4. What situation in your life right now requires you to stop and look up?
5. How can you actively choose to rely on the Spirit rather than your own strength today?

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