Stronger Than I Look: Finding Strength Through Christ (and a Little Glitter)

Verse of the Month:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." – Philippians 4:13

Let’s just get this out there—I am not what you'd call “physically strong.” I’ve never been athletic. In fact, I used to joke that when God handed out muscle, I must’ve been in the glitter line instead.

A few weeks ago, I had surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, and let me tell you... I was reminded (not so gently) of my lack of physical strength. Healing has been slow. My body moves at a different pace these days, and recovery has been humbling. It’s easy to wonder, What if I had taken better care of myself all those years? Would this be easier?

But in the quiet moments—when I can't lift, reach, or do all the physical things I want—I’ve been reminded of something bigger:

God doesn’t measure strength the way we do.

Some people have told me they see strength in me—not in my arms or back, but in my patience, in how I stick with things, how I quietly persevere when life is hard. And truthfully? Those aren’t strengths I naturally recognize in myself. In fact, there have been seasons where I felt so fragile I wondered how I’d make it through another day.

But that’s the key. I didn’t make it through alone.   It’s only because of my faith in God—because He’s given me His Son and the Holy Spirit to walk alongside me—that I’ve made it through the deepest valleys.

We’re empty nesters now, and life’s a little quieter. But challenges still come. And I still need His strength. Every. Single. Day.

God, in His goodness, has also given me the gift of crafting—a place to pour joy, color, and a little sparkle into the world, even when my body is limited. When I create, I feel a kind of strength rise up—not physical strength, but the kind that comes from purpose, peace, and the steady presence of the Holy Spirit.

So no, I’m not a bodybuilder. But through Christ?

I am strong enough.

Stronger than I look. Stronger than I feel.

Because His strength is made perfect in my weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9), and I’ll take that kind of strength any day.