Strength that delivers
Kings and Queens play a significant role in a nation. In Isaiah 37, we meet King Hezekiah. There is a threat to Hezekiah’s people, and his response is to turn to God and pray. In verse 3 he declares, ‘This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace, as when children come to the moment of birth and there is no strength to deliver them.’
This is a timely verse for me, as I gave birth to my second child six months ago. I can testify to the strength needed to deliver a child! You need strength in the build up, during the contractions when your body is in labour, but then you need strength for the final push.
In a similar way, when we want to birth a vision that God has given us, we need strength for the day and time of delivery. What a shame it would be to go through the birthing pains and then fail to deliver what the Lord has called us to carry. I want to suggest two things:
Strength for delivery comes from knowing God and believing in His mighty power. This is how Hezekiah addressed God, in verse 16:
‘Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.’
God is the highest and the greatest God, he reigns and rules over the heavens and the earth, and none can compare to Him! When God is on our side, who can be against us?! (Romans 8:31)
Know and declare your God! Strength begins to rise when we remind ourselves of who God is.
Strength for delivery comes when we are surrounded by the right people. To use the birthing analogy again, we need ‘midwives’ around us and those who are trained in order to help us reach the moment of delivery. I am so grateful for the midwives who helped me to deliver my children. They encouraged me, guided me and helped when I needed it.
Who are the people in your life that can encourage, guide and help you in delivering vision?
King Hezekiah had the prophet Isaiah as an advisor. In Isaiah 37:21, it is Isaiah who tells Hezekiah how God will respond to his prayers.
Who are you running with? Who do you go to first for advice? Are they spiritually like-minded?
Proverbs 27:17 says, ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.’ Let’s surround ourselves with ‘sharp’ people so that we can go farther and be stronger together.
King Hezekiah saw deliverance when God responded to his prayers. He strengthened himself in the Lord, he prayed and at just the right time, God brought victory over his enemies.
Pray! Regularly and consistently, turn to God.
Know God through Scripture.
Find your midwives!
We want to be leaders in our spheres of influence who pray, believe in God’s mighty power and who are moving forwards with those around us who are on a similar journey with Jesus. Then, I believe that we will be strengthened for our time of delivery, stepping into the fullness of what God has for us.
Father God, we look to you above any other name. You are mighty and all powerful. Strengthen us today, and help us to come alongside others who need encouragement on the journey to delivery. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Susie Raybould