Remember David from the Bible? He was a capable shepherd, a warrior who took down an intimidating giant, a leader of his nation’s army and the king of Israel. If you were naming “strong” people from the pages of Scripture, David would surely be on that list. But guess what? The questions and statements below are also from David, and you’ll notice they don’t necessarily sound like something a “strong” person would say…

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. -Psalm 13:1-4

He sounds pretty desperate, does he not? 

What about Habakkuk, have you heard of him? Habakkuk was a prophet chosen by God who struggled to believe in God’s goodness as evil and sadness swirled in the world around him. Read some of Habakkuk’s words:

How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? -Habakkuk 1:1-2

Lord, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, you will never die. You, Lord, have appointed them to execute judgment; you, my Rock, have ordained them to punish. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? -Habakkuk 2:12-13

These sound like the words of someone who is spiraling, don’t they? Had I read these passages from Habakkuk before knowing he was one of God’s prophets, I would have assumed the words came from someone who was panicky, whiny, doubtful or maybe even accusatory. That doesn’t necessarily jive with our list of “strong” attributes.

I find it quite comforting that God chose to include passages like these in the Bible. As you know, Scripture is a timeless treasure. Every single word in it originates from God, as it is divinely inspired. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that the Word of God is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that we can be equipped for the good work God has for us. So that means that even these questions and complaints from folks like David and Habakkuk are in there for a reason. How can they help us? 

When I read verses like the ones quoted above, I am relieved to be reminded that I do not need to always be strong. God does not expect me to have it all together all the time. And when challenging times inevitably come, David and Habakkuk have led the way in showing us how we can take our needs to the Lord. We don’t need to tone down or sugar coat our words. God wants, hears and accepts our honest thoughts. If you have a question, a complaint or a doubt, you can take it directly to Him. There isn’t a middleman who accepts the more difficult thoughts, while God only takes happier and easier stuff. God is ready for everything.

He loves you when you’re feeling strong, and He loves you just the same when you’re feeling weak and incapable of powering through another day. He loves you just the same when you’re cruising through life and when you’re just barely keeping your head above water. God loves you just the same on your best days and your worst days. Give yourself some grace today if you need it. If this isn’t one of your “strong” days, hang in there. Yes, there are better days coming. But mostly, just take a deep breath and remember that it’s okay to not always be strong.

And by the way, after Habakkuk cried out to God in desperation, he didn’t just curl up in a ball and drown himself in self-pity. He actively watched for God’s response. 

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint. -Habakkuk 2:1

Then, by the end of this short book, Habakkuk had clearly resolved to worship God in the midst of the devastation around him. Clearly things had not yet taken a turn for the better, but he had decided to keep his heart in the right posture until that turn came.

This is one of my favorite passages in Scripture:

Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. -Habakkuk 3:17-19

When you’re not okay, you can wait on God with a worshipful heart. Be at peace with the fact that you’re perhaps not at your very best, and wait on Him with expectation and trust.