The life of a disciple is rich in challenges and trials, this is normal ... It is even a promise that Jesus made to us, when He said that as He was persecuted, we will be persecuted (cf. John 15:20 ). Paul says the same thing in 2 Timothy 3:12 and James even goes so far as to invite us to consider the trials we face as a matter of complete joy (cf. James 1: 2). When we understand this, it will do two things. First of all, we will stop wanting to avoid them, flee from them or complain about them… Then we will strengthen ourselves in order to raise them up and walk in victory. For if the Bible promises us trials, It also assures us of victory (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:57; Romans 8:37 and 2 Corinthians 2:14) ...
Here Paul is going to order Timothy, and this is also for us, to be strong. It is a decision, a stance that must become a way of life. Because often while we are in the test our tendency would be to cry out to God so that He will strengthen us and deliver us. However here, but elsewhere in the Bible we see that it is our responsibility to strengthen ourselves (cf. Joshua 1: 6; 1 Kings 20:22, Psalm 27:14). It is important to understand this well, because God has already won the victory, He has given us everything to live in His victory (cf. Colossians 2:10) and it is up to us to strengthen ourselves to live this life to His measured.
Strengthening yourself in the grace that is in Jesus Christ is the foundation. It all starts with recognizing who Jesus is, that He has won the victory through His death and resurrection. That He has all power and all authority and that all knees bow in His Name and that all tongues recognize that He is Lord (cf. Philippians 2: 9-11; Colossians 2:15). When we strengthen ourselves, it is not about developing our muscles or our abilities, or even our knowledge or our emotions, to be able to stand firm and walk in victory. It's just a matter of recognizing who Jesus is, He is Lord of Lords and King of Kings.
Strengthening is letting go, giving up relying on our own strengths or abilities in order to simply come into dependence on Christ. If it's simple, it's so difficult. It is self-denial, no longer controlling things in order to trust Him. It's about recognizing that we can't do anything, it's only His grace - something that we can't do anything for to deserve it - that we just have to receive. Strengthen yourself in His grace is to return to the cross where Christ won the victory by renouncing to rely on our own strength to depend on his ...
More concretely, to be strengthened in His grace is to know that God is in control and that He always does His will perfectly. It is giving up trying to manipulate things to achieve our goals, it is also no longer worrying or struggling ... It is about remaining quiet by cultivating our relationship with Him to seek His presence, because it is there that He leads and inspires us to live in victory, even in the midst of trial and persecution. Because victory is above all an attitude of the heart!
It is interesting to notice that in the following verse Paul orders Timothy to share this with other people who will also share it with others… If God calls you to strengthen yourself in Him to walk in victory , it's not just for you. You are called to become a source of inspiration for others so that they too may strengthen themselves in Him to become together good soldiers of Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Timothy 2: 3). Whatever your situation today, what should you give up and how will you strengthen yourself in His grace? Let go, He calls you to walk in His victory ...
God has blessed you richly so that you bless abundantly ...
Luke
English (UK) 
Français