God’s Energy powerfully working within you

“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” (Col. 1:29 ESV) 

Out of gas on the Golden Gate Bridge! 

Sometime in the later part of the 1970’s, I ran out of gas on the Golden Gate Bridge! I still don’t know how I hadn’t noticed that the gas gauge was on empty; I usually pay attention to such things. Susan and I were in a small hatchback car with our small son, Matthew, in the back, and suddenly we just ran out of fuel right there on one of the busiest bridges in the world! The engine just quit, and we stopped without any power to move off the bridge. The situation looked hopeless. I felt panic rising within me. And I said a desperate prayer for help. Then, suddenly, a large 4x4 pickup pulled up behind us, put its bumper on our bumper, and pushed us safely off the bridge to a place where we could get some gas. It was an amazing, miraculous, and most welcome rescue in our desperate time of need! After we reached the clearing off the bridge, the truck sped off as fast as it appeared. We did not even get a chance to say “thank you” to the driver. The power of that rescue truck gave us the needed energy to move our vehicle when we had none of our own! In a way, it’s a picture of how God rescues us with His energy in times of need. (Phil. 4:19).

Strengthened with all power

“May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” (Col. 1:11 ESV)

God gives power to the faint

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” (Isa. 40:28-31 ESV)

Therefore…

“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13 ESV)