You’re Stronger Than You Think

When I was 16, I was the proud owner of a 1980 Mustang.

I should clarify—that’s the really ugly Mustang, not a cool one. It was a faded yellow color, with plenty of scrapes, dents, and marks. Basically, it looked like a bruised banana…

But it was my first car and I was happy to have wheels.

I took my girlfriend (Shari Overby) on a date to Armando’s Pizza in Renton.

On the way back to her house, the Mustang’s stick shift froze between second and third gear—right in the middle of an intersection. The car was stuck in neutral and I couldn’t do anything about it.

Other cars started honking at me. I was stressed and embarrassed.

I didn’t know what to do, but I had to do something…

So I got out of the car, asked Shari to sit in the driver’s seat and steer—while I pushed the car.

There was another problem—we could only go uphill and there was no place to pull off the road. On one side, there was a big curb and a sidewalk, and the other side had a rounded curb with an island or a median.

Shari asked where I wanted her to steer car.

I didn’t have time to think. I just answered, “Up on the median.”

Then I pushed.

I pushed the car uphill, trying to get as much speed as possible so the momentum would keep the car going when it hit the rounded curb.

To my surprise, the front tires made it onto the median!

I kept pushing. Soon, the whole car was off the road and sitting on that island.

Shari was impressed. I was impressed.

Honestly, I didn’t think I was strong enough to do it.

Back then, I weighed 132lbs and was as tall as I am now (I was skinny).

So, I discovered something that day: I’m stronger than I thought.

The Apostle Paul prayed for us (the church) saying,
“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his spirit.” (Ephesians 3.16 NLT)

He concluded this prayer with,
“All glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3.20 NLT)

I think we tend to underestimate our strength and capacity to handle the challenges in front of us.

We often feel as if we’re not strong enough.

I want you to know something today…

YOU’RE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK.

You can handle the challenge.

You’ll make it through.

God is giving you strength on the inside.

He can do more than we could ever imagine—and He’s working in us and through us.

Because of Him, you’re stronger than you think.