God Gives Strength
Rev. Ted C. Grier

I remember Mama!  The most poignant memory of her is when she sat in the corner of the living room (because she couldn't walk), and she would cry because of the pain when she thought people weren't looking.  Sometimes, she would cry because she wanted to be able to work, to do for her family - like she always did. However, when she got company (or even when one of us came around), she would always perk up and tell us that she was fine.  The verse that she stood on so often (at least when I was around!), was Isaiah 40:28-31 (but mostly verse 31):

  • 28   Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
  • 29   He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.
  • 30   Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,
  • 31   But those who wait on 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."(Scripture quotation copyright by the publishers of the New King James Version Bible)
When I saw her last, she looked at me and said, "Ted, when I get to heaven, I'm going to run!"  Her eyes sparkled and danced with joy at the thought.  I think of her often, and picture her in my mind as a beautiful young lady, running, leaping, and dancing before the Lord Jesus!