Finding Strength in God's Presence and Provision
The concept of finding strength in God's presence and provision is a recurring theme throughout the biblical texts, emphasizing God as a source of refuge, power, and comfort. The Psalmist declares, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" [3]. This idea is echoed in 2 Samuel, where God is described as a "strong fortress" who makes one's way perfect [1, 2].
Scripture consistently portrays God as the ultimate source of strength. The "power of God" is an attribute described as great, strong, glorious, mighty, everlasting, sovereign, effectual, irresistible, and incomparable [7]. This divine power is not abstract but is actively manifested in the lives of believers. For instance, the Lord is identified as the strength of the psalmist, providing fortitude of mind and body, and sustaining life both spiritually and temporally [13]. John Gill, in his commentary on Psalms 28:7, elaborates that God is the author of both natural and spiritual strength, supporting believers through all trials [13]. Similarly, on Habakkuk 3:19, Gill notes that God is the author and giver of strength to his people, enabling them to perform religious duties, resist spiritual enemies, and endure hardships [15].
God's presence is intrinsically linked to this provision of strength. The prophet Haggai encourages his audience to "be strong... for I am with you," indicating that God's presence is the greatest source of strength, not human might [12]. This divine presence is a comfort to the afflicted, with God being a refuge and strength for "afflicted saints" [8]. Matthew Henry, commenting on Psalms 46:1, highlights that God's relation to believers and his presence with them are reasons to triumph, especially after experiencing his intervention [14]. Christ, as God, is also seen as being "in the midst" of his people, providing support, supply, assistance, and protection [11].
Access to God's strength and presence is facilitated through various means. It is "of God" and "by Christ" (John 10:7, 9; 14:6), and "by the Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 2:18) [4]. This access is obtained through faith (Acts 14:27; Romans 5:2) and follows reconciliation with God (Colossians 1:21-22) [4]. Believers are encouraged to "seek the Lord and his strength" [10], and to wait upon God for mercy, pardon, salvation, guidance, and protection [9]. This continuous seeking and waiting demonstrate perseverance, which is maintained through the power of God, the power of Christ, and the intercession of Christ [6]. The promise of consolation under affliction is also given by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and is found through the Holy Scriptures [5].
Sources
- 2 Samuel “God is my strong fortress. He makes my way perfect. -- 2 Samuel 22:33”
- II Samuel “II Samuel 22:33 (ASV) — God is my strong fortress; And he guideth the perfect in his way.”
- Psalms “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. -- Psalms 46:1”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Affliction, Consolation Under — God is the author and Giver of -- Ps 23:4; Ro 15:5; 2Co 1:3; 7:6; Col 1:11; 2Th 2:16,17. Christ is the Author and Giver of -- Isa 61:2; Joh 14:18; 2Co 1:5. The Holy Spirit is the Author and Giver of -- Joh 14:16,17; 15:26; 16:7; Ac 9:31. Promised -- Isa 51:3,12; 66:13; Eze 14:22,23; Ho 2:14; Zec 1:17. Through the Holy Scriptures -- Ps 119:50,76; Ro 15:4. By ministers of the gospel -- Isa 40:1,2; 1Co 14:3; 2Co 1:4,6. Is abundant -- Ps 71:21; Isa 66:11. Is strong -- Heb 6:18. Is everlasting -- 2Th 2:16. Is a cause of praise -- Isa 12:1; ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Perseverance — An evidence of reconciliation with God -- Col 1:21-23. An evidence of belonging to Christ -- Joh 8:31; Heb 3:6,14. A characteristic of saints -- Pr 4:18. To be manifested in Seeking God. -- 1Ch 16:11. Waiting upon god. -- Ho 12:6. Prayer. -- Ro 12:12; Eph 6:18. Well-doing. -- Ro 2:7; 2Th 3:13. Continuing in the faith. -- Ac 14:22; Col 1:23; 2Ti 4:7. Holding fast hope. -- Heb 3:6. Maintained through The power of God. -- Ps 37:24; Php 1:6. The power of Christ. -- Joh 10:28. The intercession of Christ. -- Lu 22:31,32; Joh 17:11. The fear of God. -- Jer 32”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Power of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- Ps 62:11. Expressed by the Voice of God. -- Ps 29:3,5; 68:33. Finger of God. -- Ex 8:19; Ps 8:3. Hand of God. -- Ex 9:3,15; Isa 48:13. Arm of God. -- Job 40:9; Isa 52:10. Thunder of his power. -- Job 26:14. Described as Great. -- Ps 79:11; Na 1:3. Strong. -- Ps 89:13; 136:12. Glorious. -- Ex 15:6; Isa 63:12. Mighty. -- Job 9:4; Ps 89:13. Everlasting. -- Isa 26:4; Ro 1:20. Sovereign. -- Ro 9:21. Effectual. -- Isa 43:13; Eph 3:7. Irresistible. -- De 32:39; Da 4:35. Incomparable. -- Ex 15:11,12; De 3:24; Job 40:9; Ps 89:8.”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Afflicted Saints — God is with -- Ps 46:5,7; Isa 43:2. God is a refuge and strength to -- Ps 27:5,6; Isa 25:4; Jer 16:19; Na 1:7. God comforts -- Isa 49:13; Jer 31:13; Mt 5:4; 2Co 1:4,5; 7:6. God preserves -- Ps 34:20. God delivers -- Ps 34:4,19; Pr 12:13; Jer 39:17,18. Christ is with -- Joh 14:18. Christ supports -- 2Ti 4:17; Heb 2:18. Christ comforts -- Isa 61:2; Mt 11:28-30; Lu 7:13; Joh 14:1; 16:33. Christ preserves -- Isa 63:9; Lu 21:18. Christ delivers -- Re 3:10. Should praise God -- Ps 13:5,6; 56:8-10; 57:6,7; 71:20-23. Should imitate Christ -- Heb 12:1-3; 1P”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Waiting Upon God — As the God of providence -- Jer 14:22. As the God of salvation -- Ps 25:5. As the Giver of all temporal blessings -- Ps 104:27,28; Ps 145:15,16. For Mercy. -- Ps 123:2. Pardon. -- Ps 39:7,8. The consolation of Israel. -- Lu 2:25. Salvation. -- Ge 49:18; Ps 62:1,2. Guidance and teaching. -- Ps 25:5. Protection. -- Ps 33:20; 59:9,10. The fulfillment of His word. -- Hab 2:3. The fulfillment of His promises. -- Ac 1:4. Hope of righteous by faith. -- Ga 5:5. Coming of Christ. -- 1Co 1:7; 1Th 1:10. Is good -- Ps 52:9. God calls us to -- Zep 3:8. Exhortat”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 105:4: Seek the Lord and his strength,.... The ark, which is called his strength, and the ark of his strength, Psa 78:61, because he had shown his great strength by it, in dividing the waters at Jordan, throwing down the walls of Jericho, and plaguing the Philistines because of it, when among them. This was a symbol of God's presence, before which he was sought by his people; and was a type of our Lord Jesus, the man of God's right hand, whom he has made strong for himself, and who is called his strength, Psa 80:18. Some render it, and which Aben Ezra makes mention of, thou”
- Zephaniah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Zephaniah 3:17: The Lord thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty Every word carries in it something very encouraging to the church and people of God; and is an antidote against those fears and faintings they are subject to; Christ "is in the midst of" them; near at hand to support and supply them, to assist and strengthen them, to protect and defend them; he is not only near by his essential presence, which is everywhere; and by his providential presence, which is concerned with all his creatures; but by his gracious presence, peculiar to his church and people; and which gives th”
- Haggai (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Haggai 2:4: be strong . . . for I am with you--The greatest strength is to have Jehovah with us as our strength. Not in man's "might," but in that of God's Spirit (Zac 4:6).”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 28:7: The Lord is my strength,.... That is, the author both of natural and spiritual strength; that gave him strength of body, and fortitude of mind, to bear up under all the exercises he was tried with; the strength of his life, spiritual and temporal, and of his salvation; the strength of his heart under present distresses, and who he knew would be so in the hour of death, when his heart and strength would fail; and my shield; to protect and defend him; as were the love, power, and faithfulness of God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, his power and fulness, his blood, righteo”
- Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 46:1: The psalmist here teaches us by his own example. I. To triumph in God, and his relation to us and presence with us, especially when we have had some fresh experiences of his appearing in our behalf (Psa 46:1): God is our refuge and strength; we have found him so, he has engaged to be so, and he ever will be so. Are we pursued? God is our refuge to whom we may flee, and in whom we may be safe and think ourselves so; secure upon good grounds, Pro 18:10. Are we oppressed by troubles? Have we work to do and enemies to grapple with? God is our strength, to bear us up u”
- Habakkuk (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Habakkuk 3:19: The Lord God is my strength,.... The author and giver of natural and spiritual strength, as he is to all his people; he is the strength of their hearts when ready to faint and sink, and of their graces, faith, hope, love, patience, &c. and continues and increases them, and draws them forth into lively acts and exercise; and of their lives, natural and spiritual, which he supports and maintains, secures and defends; from him they have their strength to perform the duties of religion; to oppose their spiritual enemies, sin, Satan, and the world; and to bear them up un”