Stronger!

The PBS show, “Midwives,” is a series based on the best-selling memoirs of the late Jennifer Worth. As a recent episode began, a “street walker” was assaulted. Although, she was found and helped by a nurse, she refused to report the assault. She didn’t want people to know what she did to support her children after her husband had abandoned them. Then, a young mom was assaulted. She had been walking with her crying baby in the night air hoping to calm him. When it didn’t, she was so upset at his crying that she walked away from the pram. That’s when she was assaulted. She didn’t want anyone to know what she’d done so she refused to tell authorities. Both women for different reasons didn’t have the strength.

 

At a point earlier in the episode, the head nun told a younger nun during chapel that her voice needed to be stronger when they sang and worshipped. She said that it not only helps her but others.

 

This same young nun was then assaulted. At first, she, too, refused to cooperate, and she was very angry with God. Why would He allow that to happen to her?

 

Then, it occurred to her—the first two women could not be strong to tell and stop the attacker, but she could. So, she went to the police and told, going through the difficult process that required. Through her testimony, the man was caught and stopped. Her experience, though, resulted in making her stronger, including her voice in song and worship.

 

A song Kelly Clarkson sings, “Stronger,” says, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, stand a little taller … What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter…” That part of her song rings true.

 

Christian artist Mandisa’s “Stronger,” does better by reminding us that even in the “rain,” even when it’s hard to see God, He is still right there and He still cares. But He knows if you hold on, you will end up stronger. Her words echo Peter’s, “After you have suffered a little while, our God, who is full of kindness through Christ, will give you his eternal glory. He personally will come and pick you up, and set you firmly in place, and make you stronger than ever.” (1 Peter 5:10 TLB)

 

It’s tough for us as mothers to see our children go through the hard things this life can throw at them. Sometimes it seems that we can do little or nothing to help them. But our prayers can do what our hands cannot. Our spoken prayers for them can help bring God’s power to work in their lives and help them become stronger.

 

When suffering comes, hold on. Stand firm. Pick up the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and fight like a warrior—PRAY! You will bring the strength of God into play.

 

He personally will come and pick you up, and set you firmly in place,

and make you stronger than ever.

1 Peter 5:10b (TLB)