Proverbs 24:10: What Is True Strength?

"If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small." Proverbs 24:10

What is true strength? Oftentimes the culture tells us that true strength is being able to bench 250, being able to look like you have it all together even when you don't, and even internalizing your feelings when you are sad or angry. However, according to scripture, none of these are what characterizes true strength. True strength, according to the Bible, is remaining strong even in adversity.

Let us look at Proverbs 24:10 this morning: "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small." This is perhaps one of the simplest proverbs, stating for us a fact that seems almost obvious. What this psalm is simply saying is that those who fall in times of trouble are those who do not have strength. Duh, right? But let us look at a two observations from this text that might help us understand it more.

Firstly, the depth of our strength shows up in our weakness. Note that this proverb doesn't say "If you faint, your strength is small," but rather "If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small." The emphasis here is on the trial that comes into someones life and how he responds to it. Remember Job? A great adversity came upon his life, and through it we saw his great strength and dependence upon God. But what happens when trials come into your life? In these weak times, does your strength show? Or do you give up?

Secondly, those who merely appear strong are often truly weak. Notice that this verse does not speak of apparent, outward strength, but real, inward strength. You can look as strong as you want on the outside, but are you really fooling anyone? When trials come and you fall apart, where did your appearance of strength go? So often, we try to appear strong in response to our fear of man. But so often, those who appear the strongest are truly the weakest, and we surely see this when the trial hits, and they crumble.

So, I hope one or both, of our observations were convicting for you this morning. Take some time to consider: How strong am I? If strength is depending upon God in my greatest weakness, how am I doing at that? When trials hit me, do I freak out and give up, or do I trust in God? I encourage you, dear brother and sister, that if you faint in times of adversity, you ought to grow in your spiritual strength. By reading God's Word and praying, learn how to depend on God more, that you might not easily fall in times of trouble. Amen.