ISAIAH 12:2
Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and not be afraid;
For the Lord God is my strength and my song,
And he has become my salvation.
We are taught from a young age in this culture to be empowered - the sort of "be all that you can be" mantra, or "just do it". We see movies with mighty heroes and graceful princesses, we see superstars on stage, and we are told to emulate those role models, to view fame, fortune, physical power, talent, political clout, and rebellion against the system as "strength". While there can be moving stories of humans who overcome great difficulties in their lives that might encourage us during our own trials, a danger lurks in looking to heroes for strength: if by some chance we aren't as powerful, successful, beautiful, talented, or wealthy as some of these role models, then internally, we feel disempowered - we will feel weak by comparison. Indeed, some of what other people have will never be attainable, for it is not our role in this world - we were given a different body and different circumstances.
Instead, look to God for your strength, gaze upon the cross for encouragement. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal your particular talents and equipment. Have this be a personal relationship with the Divine rather than a comparison with the world. Instead of "be all that you can be", try "be all that God is calling me to be," or "be all that he has equipped me for."
It is so hard to admit weakness in this world, because we're all fighting to stay on the top of the heap for survival. But there is nothing in or of this world that can save us, regardless of how popular, muscular, or intelligent we are, regardless of how high we climb.
This verse in Isaiah reminds us that GOD is our salvation - we CANNOT do it alone, with our own power, which was never ours to begin with, since God gave us our very life. So crucial is this understanding of God's salvation, that Isaiah repeats it twice in the same verse! Sandwiched in between are the contents of that salvation: Trust, Strength, Lack of fear, and Song (beauty, joy, worship, harmony, the steady beat of our heart).
Another passage in Isaiah sums it up:
(Isaiah 40:29-31) "He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, He increases strength. Even youths shall be 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." (read more about this passage in DAY 24)
No matter who you are - young, strong, beautiful, great - you will grow weary. You cannot do it all on your own. Rely on God for your source of self-worth, your source of empowerment, your ability to get the job done...
...and remember to whistle while you work! God gives us the equipment we need, and we should remember to praise him and be grateful for that. His breath is in our lungs, his oxygen in our blood. Our cells should sparkle in joy within us, for this is the day that the Lord has made - let us rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 18:24).
The world is filled to the point of gluttony with self-help books, gurus, workshops and retreats all about self-empowerment, personal growth, and enlightenment. It's not wrong to get the help of another person if you are in need, nor is it bad to read words of encouragement. But remember Who the ultimate power source is, and if any empowerment teacher or book tries to convince you otherwise, let it go.
What I am not saying is that we are boneless, weak blobs, or limp puppets on strings. On the contrary! We are fearfully and wonderfully made, in His very image!! (Psalm 139:14/Genesis 1:27) We should remember the voice of the Lord who said: "It's not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit". Would He send you into the world alone? There IS no alone, for "The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it (Psalm 24:1)." And when we have Christ in our lives - as our salvation - the Holy Spirit dwells within us, which is our engine; with God living within our very beings, we are never left alone, disempowered...don't forget He's there!
Be not afraid. God is your salvation at conception; He has become your salvation at the time of your death, and in between these bookends of promise and providence is all strength, courage, and joy you will need for your life.