strength

because I am an athlete,  i know a lot of strength.  I understand what it takes to gain muscle, working out, and being mentally strong.  i get it, i understand it.  but i admit, that there are times when i feel helpless.  when i feel like i have literally nothing left to give or to lay down.  when i've reached the bottom of my, what seems like a never ending bucket.  at times it is hard to dig deeper, and to find the next handful of strength to create the next play or get back to help my defenders, or to push myself in the last 100m of the 400m race, or to get up after someone did a move on me in wrestling.  it is those times when i feel weak, helpless, and have no idea how to carry on....but during those times in sports or even in the everyday battles of life that is when i call onto the ultimate strength giver.  i know a lot about strength that everyone wants in the sports world, but i also know that my God is stronger than any obstacle.  he is stronger than any athlete i compete against;  stronger than my coaches;  stronger than my mind;  stronger then my lungs;  stronger then my very own muscles.  he is stronger.  and knowing that as a fact is what helps me during those moments when i am literally dead.  all i ask for is his strength to help me carry on, and in that moment it is like i can dig a little deeper and find a little more strength to continue.
my favorite line from soul surfer fits this topic just perfectly. i absolutely love it, because Bethany didn't let anything stop her, and get in her way of achieving her dream. i love that in the tough times she looked to God for strength. she trusted that God would renew all of her strength and help her live the promising future God had in store for her. i love that she declared that over her life ~ i can do all things through him who gives me strength!
i also admit that this happens often. ~ this past weekend i was away at a soccer tournament, and i had to ask my God for strength constantly. i had to ask him to help me carry on and forget about my hip flexor, my huge blister on my foot, exactly where i kick; to ignore how tired i was.  i also had to ask for strength to ignore the horrible calls the ref was calling, and the rugby-like pushes from behind i was getting in the semi-finals from a team who needs to to learn to play real soccer. it takes strength to get over things like that, and it's in those times exactly when i learned that my strength just isn't good enough. no matter how good of shape or strong i am, i can't depend on my own strength - and i am not the one to just settle. i have played soccer for many years, but never have i played soccer like i have been this year - all thanks to a God so strong, who can help me in the midst of my situations when i need him the most!

~amy