by Dennis Gladden, By Green Pastures, ©2026
(Apr. 8, 2026) — We come to the last step in the path of faith: having the strength to obey God.
It may be physical strength, which Samson needed to pull down the pillars of the Philistines’ pagan temple. More likely, it is the strength for when we have neither the will nor the desire to obey.
Jesus says, “Forgive, as I have forgiven you.”
We object, “But I have been hurt too badly.”
Jesus says, “Love as I have loved you.”
We answer, “But they hate me!”
Peter, the Twelve disciples, and Sarah, the wife of Abraham, are good examples.
- Peter walked on the Sea of Galilee because Jesus said, “Get out of the boat and come.”
- At the end of a long day in an isolated place, a crowd of 5,000-plus grew restless because no one except a young boy brought lunch. Yet, they ate their fill and left satisfied after the Twelve distributed an abundance of food when Jesus said, “Feed them.”
- Sarah was barren, old, and her husband was “as good as dead” when it came to having children. Yet, by faith, “Sarah received strength to conceive, and she bore a child when she was past the age” (Hebrews 11:11).
Sarah didn’t have the strength. She received it.
It takes God’s strength to do God’s work.
To obey God, we must receive strength that we don’t have because it takes God’s strength to do God’s work.
And He gives it.
How?
There are two disciplines that the traditional means of grace don’t mention: train our eyes on God and wait.
Look to please God
We do not follow Jesus very long before we have the same question as Sarah and Mary when they were told they would bear children.
How can this be?
How can we do what God just told us?
King David instructs us to train our eyes on the source of our help.
“I will lift up my eyes to the hills—.” He paused.
“From whence comes my help?”
Maybe he pondered for a few moments; maybe the answer rushed to mind. Regardless, David looked higher.
Read the rest here.