Recurring Word of the Year
Strength has echoed through my reflections since 2021, but I remember it most vividly in 2022. At first, I thought it was simply about physical endurance — the ability to push through fatigue, to keep going when the pressures of life felt heavy. I was tired, worn, and convinced that strength meant muscle, stamina, and grit. Each year, as I paused to reflect and waited on the Lord for guidance, strength came again — and again.
At one point, I grew frustrated. Why this word again? Surely there were other words that could shape my journey. But in 2026, when I sought the Lord once more, the word came with clarity: greater strength. That was the moment I realized strength was not ordinary, not shallow, not a single definition. It was a word I had not yet examined deeply enough.
Unfolding Dimensions of Strength
Strength was not just about physical endurance. It was about capacity — the ability to carry responsibilities without collapsing. It was about security — the peace that comes when you know you are protected. It was about wisdom — the discernment to choose rightly when the world is chaotic. It was about joy — the delight that fuels resilience. Each year, strength meant something different, and my understanding expanded. My capacity to apply it to life grew. As I explored these dimensions, I realized strength also demanded introspection.
Strength for the Inner Battle
I came to see that strength is required not only for outward battles but for inward ones. It takes strength to look inwardly and be bold enough to face what is inside — the hidden fears, the old mindsets, and the patterns that no longer serve. Changing those mindsets is rarely easy. It is a resistance all its own, a pushback that demands courage and endurance. Yet it is a worthwhile fight. Strength is not only about standing against external pressures but about confronting the quiet wars within, persevering through the process of transformation and having self-control.
Scriptural Anchors of Strength
Scripture confirmed this unfolding revelation.
- “But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” (2 Thessalonians 3:3) — strength as security and defense.
- “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.” (Ephesians 6:10) — strength as divine empowerment, not self-reliance.
- “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10) — strength as joy that fuels resilience.
- “Jehovah is my strength and my song.” (Isaiah 12:2) — strength as worship, flowing from relationship with God.
Hezekiah embodied this truth when the Assyrian army threatened Jerusalem. He did not rely on military might alone but clung to God, the source of true strength. What strength did he need then? Security, defense, protection. And when you are protected, you are strengthened.
Strength in Daily Living
Looking back, I see many things I have been working on that require God’s strength. Projects, responsibilities, creative pursuits — all demand capacity beyond my own. Without His strength, I would be overwhelmed. With His strength, I can build where it matters most, and do so joyfully, even in the midst of a chaotic world.
Strength has become the thread running through my life, weaving together seasons of fatigue, revelation, and growth. It is not a one-time word but a lifelong anchor. Each scripture I received over the years revealed a new dimension of strength, expanding my understanding and stretching my capacity to live faithfully. One year, strength meant endurance. Another year, it meant peace. Another, it meant capacity. Another, joy. And now, greater strength — the kind that is not ordinary but divine, empowering me to stand firm in chaos.
Strength as Shield and Legacy
Strength, then, is shield and fuel. It protects and sustains. It is both personal and spiritual. It is the quiet endurance of fatigue and the bold courage to face inner resistance. It is the wisdom to discern, the joy to endure, the peace to rest, the capacity to carry, the courage to look inward, and the faith to stand.
As I lean on God for strength in my journey — writing, building, leading — I recognize that true strength is both gift and calling. It is a gift from God, who is my refuge and defense. And it is a calling to carry forward the courage of those who came before me, whether in scripture or in history.
Strength is not a word that visits lightly. It is a mantle carried through seasons, shaping both personal journeys and spiritual growth. May we all recognize that strength is more than endurance. It is capacity, protection, joy, wisdom, and transformation. It is the divine empowerment to live faithfully in a chaotic world. And it is the courage to stand boldly, knowing that our strength is not our own but comes from God Himself.
Strength is not always loud; sometimes it moves quietly, carrying you forward when no one sees.
This reflection is part of my author journey at Plunkett Writes. You can also follow along on Instagram @plunkettwrites, where I share my writing journey.