Strength in Adversity
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.” — Proverbs 24:10 (ESV)
In all honesty, this is an easy Proverb to gloss over at first glance. As Christians, we get it, “be strong when troubles come” is the mantra. But where does that strength come from? It feels like this is one of those verses that needs more reflection, it is a verse that looks you straight in the eyes, and says, “Hey, stop pretending you’re stronger than you are.”
And maybe that’s exactly the point.
Because let’s remember the truth about adversity; this is not something that might or possibly float into your life. No, adversity is guaranteed. It’s a not matter of “if, but when.” It is a part of walking around this broken, sinful world. Jesus Himself told us straight up:
“In this world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33
See that? Will have. Not might have. Not depending on how “good” you have been doing. Or if you happen to “luck out.” Nope, none of those are true - adversity walks to your front door and invades your home without warning. And you and I will have to face it.
Proverbs 24:10 begs us the question—when adversity comes, do we faint? Or do we derive strength from the only source we should?
When My Strength Wasn’t Enough
I remember a season when life just felt like a relentless downpour. You ever have one of those months—or years—when it feels like you’re walking barefoot uphill (both ways), with the rain beating down while carrying a backpack full of bricks? That was me. Worldly stress was piling on. Family pressures pressed in. I was running on fumes spiritually. I was “pulling up my bootstraps” and relying on my own strength.
And you know what? I fainted. Not physically, but emotionally. I broke down, doubts and lies started to creep into my thinking.
That’s exactly what Proverbs 24:10 is talking about. When the “day of adversity” comes, our true strength is revealed. And mine, on my own? It was paper thin.
Why Our Strength Runs Out
I think the reason this verse hits so hard is because it reminds us of something we don’t want to admit: our strength is small. Left to myself, I can only hold up for so long before I collapse.
The prophet Isaiah puts it this way:
“Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah 40:30–31
My strength runs out. God’s strength doesn’t. That is a huge difference. Mine wears thin by Tuesday afternoon. His strength is fresh every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23).
We faint when adversity hits because we’ve been leaning too hard on our own resources—our cleverness, our willpower, our bank accounts, our ability to “push through.” And those things aren’t bad in themselves. They just aren’t enough. Especially for the really heavy stuff.
The Gift of Adversity
Here’s where it gets interesting though. Instinctively, I want to run from adversity, but through God’s amazing work, I realize that God uses it for my good. He allows us to hit that wall (or that wall to hit us) not because He delights in our suffering, but because He loves us too much to let us pretend we’re self-sufficient.
Paul knew this firsthand. He wrote:
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” — 2 Corinthians 12:9
“My grace is sufficient for you!” Adversity is like a flashlight. It exposes where I’m relying on myself instead of Jesus. And while that hurts, it is also freeing. Because when I finally stop clutching my tiny scraps of strength, I make room for His.
Consider This…
You ever tried to move a couch by yourself? Maybe you have thought, Yeah, I’ve got this, and then halfway through the doorway you realize you don’t. You’re straining, sweating, and the couch is stuck sideways, and you’re yelling at someone to help.
That’s me in adversity—wobbling under the weight of life’s couch. But the Lord? He’s not just a helper who grabs the other end. He’s the One who says, “Beloved child, move aside. I truly got this. You just walk with Me.”
Psalm 46:1 says it plainly:
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
Notice—it’s his strength in action. God doesn’t give us a motivational pep talk and walk away, leaving us to try again. He’s present. He’s with us. Right there in the thick of it.
When Adversity Knocks Again
I’d love to tell you that after the season marked by the above breakdown, life got easier. But it didn’t. The storm doesn’t necessarily immediately calm down. But something shifted in me. I stopped pretending I had to “be strong.” I started whispering, sometimes hourly, “Lord, I can’t. But You can.”
And you know what? He did. Not in some flashy, instant way. But in small, steady mercies. A verse that jumped out during my morning reading. A friend’s unexpected text. A surprising peace that didn’t match the chaos around me.
It was like Isaiah said—He renewed my strength. Not my own. His.
For You, Right Now
If you’re in the middle of your own day of adversity, I see you. It’s exhausting. It feels unfair sometimes. You might even be a little mad at God for letting it happen. You might be letting the enemy’s lies sneak into your mind. And that’s okay—God handles the honesty of our failures.
But here’s what I want you to remember: fainting doesn’t have to be the end of the story God is writing for you. Your small strength is not a death sentence—it’s an invitation to lean on the God whose strength never runs out.
Psalm 73:26 says it best:
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
That’s the hope tucked inside Proverbs 24:10. Sure, our strength is small. But His strength and might is endless. And He gladly pours it into weak, weary people like us.
Practical Anchors
Let me leave you with some practical anchors for the next time adversity shows up (because it will):
Cling to God’s Word. Stamp verses on your heart. Write down verses on index cards regarding His strength and keep them with you. Let His promises interrupt your panic.
Pray raw, not polished. Don’t wait until you “feel spiritual.” The reality is, you’ll never feel spiritual enough, so just talk to Him honestly. Tell Him when you’re anxious. Tell Him when you’re scared. Tell Him you’re tired. Ask Him for help.
Lean on your people. Stay in community with God’s people. God often strengthens us through community. Let a trusted friend or church family member carry some of your burdens with you.
Remember the finish line. Adversity isn’t forever. One day, Jesus will wipe away every tear (Revelation 21:4). Until then, His strength will carry you every step of the way.
Closing Thoughts and Prayer
Proverbs 24:10 isn’t meant to shame us. It’s meant to wake us up. If we faint in adversity, it’s because we were never meant to rely on our own strength anyway. The gospel invites us to admit our weakness and find, to our surprise, that God’s power shows up right there.
So don’t despair if you feel small today. You are small. So am I. But our God is not. And when adversity comes—when the storms batter, when the load is too heavy—we don’t have to faint. Because the Lord Himself is our strength, our refuge, and our portion forever.
Father, help! We know we don’t walk alone on this earth. We know you are our source of strength. Give us wisdom and a heart to rely on your strength and not our own. We love you because you first loved us. In Jesus name, Amen!
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