Strong Enough

Contemporary Christian Singing Artist Matthew West has written an incredible song entitled “Strong Enough”.  Each time I listen to this awesome God-inspired song I find myself thinking about how many times in my life I have felt I was not strong enough to deal with or resolve the things that life was throwing at me.  What a powerful tool at Satan’s disposal because men by nature believe that they must be strong enough to handle any and every thing that comes our way and we are never to admit we can’t.  My Brothers, please recognize this is nothing but a lie and a ploy perpetrated by the enemy.  The lyrics of the song say:

“You must, you must think I’m strong
To give me what I’m going through.
Well, forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong,
But this looks like more than I can do on my own.
I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be.
I give up, I’m not strong enough.
Hands of mercy won’t you cover me
Lord right now I’m asking you to be
Strong enough, strong enough, for the both of us.
Well, maybe, maybe that’s the point,
To reach the point of giving up.
Cause when I’m finally, finally at rock bottom,
Well, that’s when I start looking up and reaching out.
I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be.
I give up, I’m not strong enough.
Hands of mercy won’t you cover me
Lord right now I’m asking you to be strong enough, strong enough. ²
Cause I’m broken down to nothing,
But I’m still holding on to the one thing.
You are God and you are strong when I am weak.
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be strong enough, Strong enough”

As I thought about the message I wanted to convey from these wonderful lyrics, I read Matthew West’s account of the inspiration for this song.  What better way than allow the writer to share how God used a real life situation to inspire a life-changing song.

Matthew writes “Strong Enough was inspired by a single mom from Indiana and her frustrated teenage daughter. Tonia had her first child when she was just 19 years old, and today she is just trying to give her three kids a better life than the one she has had. Her daughter Haleigh was beginning her dream of going to college in Chicago at Columbia University. But during a visit home for the holidays, Haleigh was in a near fatal car accident just one mile from her home. The accident sent her life spinning in a direction she hadn’t planned, and certainly never hoped for. Thirteen surgeries in three years, and Haleigh is still recovering. Her insurance was cancelled, and she could not go back to school because of her medical bills and continuing recovery.

While I was in the cabin, Tonia wrote to me about one night in the hospital while she was trying to comfort her daughter. She told her, ‘Haleigh, the Lord won’t let you go through anything He doesn’t think you are strong enough to handle.’ Haleigh, who was beyond frustrated at that point responded honestly, ‘Oh yeah? Well, he must think I’m pretty FREAKIN’ STRONG!’ Haleigh’s honest and human response to the adversity she was facing really impacted me. I had this picture in my head of this single mother and her devastated daughter standing at the foot of an impossible mountain, both saying, ‘This is bigger than me, I’m not strong enough.’ Haleigh’s response to her mom inspired the first lines of the song.

You must, you must think I’m strong
To give me what I’m going through
Well, forgive me, forgive me if I’m wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

The song goes on to explore where our true source of strength comes from. My favorite verse from the bible holds the answer, and I sing it in the bridge of this song. Philippians 4:13 is a verse my dad taught me when I was a kid. A verse I quoted many times in my life, whenever I have felt the way Haleigh has, facing my own impossible mountains in life. The bridge of the song proclaims,

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be strong enough
Strong enough

One of the reasons I chose this song to be the next single on radio is because of the response it has during our live show on ‘The Story of Your Life Tour’. Every single night, when we get to the part and start singing, ‘I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH’, hands begin to go up in the air all across the audience. It is as if people one by one are facing their own impossible mountains and soaking up that much needed reminder that we were never made to be strong enough to make it through life’s adversity on our own. We were made to be carried by the strength of a savior. I hope and pray this song will encourage you when your day finds you facing an impossible mountain. May you be comforted by the reminder that you’re not strong enough, and thank God you don’t have to be.” ³

WOW!  How often have we looked at seemingly impossible situations and said God I’m just not strong enough to face this mountain.  We say “Oh God, look at how big my mountain is” when what we really should be shouting is “Oh mountain, look how big my God is!”  God’s men must recognize where our true source of strength comes from and that is through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  While Satan will use many different lies to try and lead us down the path of self-dependence and self-reliance, the result of choosing this path is loneliness, defeat, and despair.  Isn’t it a great relief to know that we don’t have to be strong enough because no matter the circumstances or situation God is strong enough for both of us! AMEN!

[1] Strong Enough written and performed by Matthew West on the album The Story of Your Life

[2] Strong Enough by Matthew West

[3]This story is taken from Matthew West’s website at www.matthewwest.com.  This story comes from his Blog written on 3/30/11.