If you are facing depression, you are stronger than you think.

I have a Word from The LORD for you today, вЂњYou are stronger than you think!вЂќ Today you may be feeling weak, you may feel every ounce of strength is gone and you canвЂ™t go on, but this strength can be renewed! Learn more at people looked at Samson after his capture, they saw a weak man.ДЄs they mocked him, they failed to realize that his strength could be renewed and not by exercise, but by one touch from God! and Calm, Cool, and Connected: 5 Digital Habits for a More Balanced Life. This post originally appeared on Proverbs 31 and was republished with permission.ДЄrlene Pellicane is a speaker and author of several books including Parents Rising: 8 Strategies for Raising Kids Who Love God, Respect Authority, and Value WhatвЂ™s Right. Now read this: If you feel abandoned by God Thank You for clothing me in Your power and righteousness.

I humble myself before You, and I declare in my weakness, You are strong. Lord Jesus, You are my strength and my defense. Because it is God whoвЂ™s smarter and stronger, God who can do anything, and God who is the boss. But when I rely on God, the possibilities are truly endless. Yet when I rely on myself and my own smarts, I come up short every time, since I have limited resources and abilities. We are surrounded by positive self-esteem messages such as вЂњI can do anythingвЂќ and вЂњGirl Boss.вЂќ It all looks good at first glance. When the Angel of the Lord speaks to him in Judges 6:15, the conversation goes like this: вЂњPardon me, my lord,вЂ™ Gideon replied, вЂbut how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.вЂ™вЂќ (NIV) He was essentially saying, вЂњYouвЂ™ve got the wrong guy!вЂќ My guess is he wasnвЂ™t wearing an Old Testament T-shirt that read, вЂњI am smarter and stronger than I think.вЂќ It was in GideonвЂ™s weakness - not his strength or pride - that God was glorified. I relate to Gideon who wonders why he of all people was chosen to be used by God. We can admit our weaknesses and point to GodвЂ™s strength, which truly sustains. ItвЂ™s humility that allows us to connect beautifully with others. Actually, when we try to look good and exalt ourselves, we push others (and God) away. We donвЂ™t have to prove our worth through our accomplishments or strengths. HereвЂ™s where you and I can breathe a sigh of relief.

His personal assets were viewed as liabilities so that he could fully embrace the righteousness of Christ. Yet he describes all this self-importance as trash, compared to knowing Christ by faith. He was as perfect as a religious man could be, keeping the law to the utmost. In other words, Paul was more educated and experienced than almost anybody of his day. Philippians 3:5-6 tells us Paul was, вЂњcircumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews concerning the law, a Pharisee concerning zeal, persecuting the church concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blamelessвЂќ (NKJV). Now if anyone could boast in smarts or strength, it was Paul. That runs counter to the worldвЂ™s way of doing things. The Apostle Paul leads the way as we read in todayвЂ™s key verse, вЂњIf I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weaknessвЂќ (2 Corinthians 11:30). Instead of boasting about our intelligence or strength, we should brag on GodвЂ™s. Read this: When you donвЂ™t receive the recognition you deserve

He is the one who is smarter and stronger than we think. On the contrary, we are in desperate need of God. Constantly propping up the ego leads to pride. When we believe weВ are the ones who are ultimately smart and strong, where is the need for God? The truth is, we arenвЂ™t as smart and strong as we think. You are smarter and stronger than you think. Although thereвЂ™s nothing really wrong with this positive message, I thought a better slogan to broadcast for an airport might be вЂњAdventure AheadвЂќ or вЂњYour safety is our top priority.вЂќ I found it odd that the airport was trying to boost my self-esteem. I looked up at a giant billboard which read, вЂњYou are smarter and stronger than you think.вЂќ I thought it was a weird sign for an airport. вЂњIf I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.вЂќ 2 Corinthians 11:30 (NIV)

Stronger than you think