Article April 10, 1978 Issue

Actually, strength is spiritual

FLINT LEWIS TOWNSEND

Sometimes we hear an individual say, "I wish I could gain more strength." The Bible gives us some helpful thoughts about this. The Psalmist said, "It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect." ^{Ps. 18:32;} In Nehemiah we read, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." ^{Neh. 8:10;}

Strength is not body-given nor man-given, but God-given. Since it flows to us from our heavenly Father, it is actually spiritual and eternal—inextinguishable. Christ Jesus knew and relied fully on God, Spirit, as the source of his strength. He was conscious that God is all presence, substance, and power. As a result, he was able to feed the multitudes, calm the raging storm, walk on the water, heal the sick and the sinner, and raise the dead to life and freedom. Jesus had complete trust in God, and he always had sufficient strength to carry out his mission.

Each one of us has the God-given right to know that our strength is gained through a spiritual understanding of the eternal Maker and His creation, man. Man—in his true, spiritual identity—is the joyful, complete reflection of Spirit, free and untouched by any disability. And as we understand this truth and let it imbue our thought, we have all the strength we need to carry on our daily duties. In the Christian Science textbook, Science and Health, Mrs. Eddy writes: "Let us feel the divine energy of Spirit, bringing us into newness of life and recognizing no mortal nor material power as able to destroy. Let us rejoice that we are subject to the divine 'powers that be.'" ^{Science and Health, p. 249.}