Renewed Strength

Often it is that we find embedded in the seemingly most insignificant portions of Scripture the riches and most meaningful truth. So it is with the obscure text of 2 Kings 6. Here the prophetic interns of the divided kingdom days are found needing to embark upon a building expansion to increase the space in which training for the prophets could occur. In the process, they must clear a wood of its trees to make room for their school. As they swing their axes, bringing down tree after tree, one suddenly calls out to the others that his axe head had flown off the handle and come to rest in the bottom of the Jordan. To make matters worse, the axe that he had been using was not his, but borrowed, a fact curiously kept secret until the accident. The prophet Elisha was called to help and in a matter of moments, the axe head miraculously floated on top of the water, and the work could continue.

How often do we, like the prophet, swing our axe handle in faithful routine, but the power, the strength, the cutting edge is gone. Only when we confess that the strength to survive was not only ours to begin with, it was borrowed, may we hope to experience new and fresh energy to continue when we call out to our Master. He stands ready to reinvigorate our frustrated selves and supply us with a sharpened axe head of spiritual powers. David said, “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (Psalm 27:13, 14). As we confess our spiritual impotency and helplessness lay before Him our weariness and emptiness, His strength will renew us and show itself perfect in our situation.