A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape, but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn’t afraid of anything, but a woman of strength shows her courage in the midst of fear.

A strong woman won’t let anyone get the best of her, but a woman of strength gives the best of her to everyone.

A strong woman walks sure-footedly, but a woman of strength knows God will catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face, but a woman of strength wears grace. (Hail Mary, full of grace.)

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey, but a woman of strength has faith that in the journey she will become strong.

Author unknown

My Commentary:

There is a difference between being strong and having strength.

The world often measures strength by independence, confidence, toughness, and the ability to remain standing when life becomes difficult. Christianity offers another picture. Sometimes our greatest strength is found when we kneel.

A woman of strength knows she does not have to face everything alone. She brings her fears, disappointments, hopes, and dreams to God. Prayer does not remove every difficulty, but it reminds her that she never walks through difficulty by herself.

Courage does not mean being unafraid. Mary must have experienced fear when the angel told her that her entire life was about to change. Yet she responded, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” Her strength came not from knowing what would happen, but from trusting the God who would accompany her.

A woman of strength also understands that winning is not about getting the best of others. Jesus taught exactly the opposite: greatness is found in giving the best of ourselves to others.

And when she falls — as all of us eventually do — she knows falling is not failure. God can lift her, teach her, and sometimes make her stronger precisely through what knocked her down.

Perhaps the final line says it best. We often pray, “God, make me strong enough for the journey.”

But God sometimes answers:
“Take the journey with Me, and along the way, I will make you strong.”

Real strength is not proving that we can handle everything ourselves.
Real strength is knowing that we don’t have to.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face, but a woman of strength wears grace. (Hail Mary, full of grace.).  What do these words mean to YOU?

DEAR GOD, MAKE ME STRONG ENOUGH FOR MY JOURNEY TODAY!