Strength And Light

For my birthday this month, my aunt gave me a candle. The candle is in a small white holder that has the meaning of my name written on it. This is what it says:

Emily

Level headed, shy and retiring

A tower of strength in a crisis

I had heard that my name meant “strong and industrious” before. In church, I’ve heard about the importance of the meaning of names many times. However, even with this knowledge, I couldn’t see myself as “a tower of strength in a crisis”. I see myself as weak and emotionally driven when push comes to shove. As I contemplated this, the Lord reminded me of a scripture passage I had been meditating on.

 “Have you not known?Have you not heard?The everlasting God, the Lord,The Creator of the ends of the earth,Neither faints nor is weary.His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak,And to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary,And the young men shall utterly fall, But those who wait on the LordShall renew their strength;They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint.” 

(Isaiah 40:28-31, NKJV)

I am not strong on my own. Jesus is the source of my strength. God has always given lasting strength to those who love, trust and follow Him!

In the next chapter of Isaiah, God promises strength again to those He has called.

               

You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,And called from its farthest regions,And said to you,‘You are My servant,I have chosen you and have not cast you away: Fear not, for I am with you;Be not dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you,Yes, I will help you,I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

 (Isaiah 41:9-10, NKJV)

          

There are crises in life. I can try and deal with them on my own and weaken myself and others in the process. Or I can draw on the strength God provides and be the tower of strength that He wants me to be. Just like my name says I am.

I found my name’s meaning on a candle. Candles provide light. When I rely on the strength God gives, I can truly love others and be a light in the darkness. If I’m relying on myself, I may gain praise for accomplishments, but people won’t see Jesus. As Jesus said in Mathew 5:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

           (Matthew 5:16, NKJV)

                
The Father provides the strength for His children to do what He has called them to do. That is why He gets the glory when I shine His light.