The Source of Strength
Day 2, Week 2 | FOCUS
Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
John 15:4-5 (ESV)
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Isaiah 40:29-31 (ESV)
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.
Fixing our eyes on Jesus is not about admiring Him from a distance. He is our example that we should look to from afar, but even more, He is our present strength. Hebrews 12 calls Him the “founder and perfecter of our faith,” meaning He initiated this work in us and will carry it to completion. In John 15:5, Jesus reminds us, “Apart from me you can do nothing.” This race of faith requires more than human strength, and if we try to run it alone, we will fall short every time.
Think about the strain of physical endurance. Athletes know that staying strong in the face of fatigue demands fuel and rest, and they know where to turn to get it. Our faith race is no different. Jesus is the source of strength that carries us when we’re weak, the source of refreshment that revives our weary souls. Isaiah 40:29-31 reminds us, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength…they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength.” Relying on Jesus isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s an invitation to receive the strength only He can give.
When we feel exhausted, Jesus invites us to abide in Him, to draw our endurance from His Spirit and His promises. This isn’t about trying harder or “pushing through.” It’s about a daily surrender, a constant turning to Him, believing that He can carry us through whatever we’re facing. Just as a vine supplies life and nourishment to its branches, Jesus is our life-source, sustaining us with the strength we can’t muster up on our own.
Our culture often values independence and self-reliance, but the way of faith calls us to something different. It calls us to let go of our own strength, to admit our limitations, and to place our hope in Jesus’ strength instead. There is no shame in needing His help. In fact, God created us to live in reliance on Him, to come to Him daily and ask for what only He can give.
Today, take time to pause and reflect on the source of your strength. Are you trying to do this on your own, or are you letting Jesus supply what you need? Fixing your eyes on Him means more than admiring His example. It means depending on Him completely. Ask Him for the strength you need, the endurance that only He can provide, and the grace to rely on Him each step of the way.
Reflect: Where are you relying on your own strength? How can you surrender that to Jesus?
Pray: Lord, I’m often tempted to run this race on my own. Help me to lean on You, to trust in Your strength rather than my own.
Act: When you face a challenge today, pause and pray for Jesus’ strength before you act.
