"Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble." Isaiah 35:3 NAS

If you could set out to have a goal for your day, something that was simple, then here is the verse for that goal. If you could come up with a New Year’s resolution that could fit all year round, then here is the New Year resolution that would apply. This is the heart and the ministry goal for all believers. In Christ this is the desire we often have toward our brethren in Christ. To "encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble" brings a mighty picture of Christ to mind.

His entire ministry life was spent doing this to the lost and hurting. He ate with the poor wretched sinners. He healed those who were sick and blind and even on the Sabbath. He encouraged those who were exhausted and gave strength to the feeble. We all become exhausted and our strength seems to be feeble at times. Some of us live exhausted. Others of us live weak without strength. The Kings James Version says, "Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees."

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary says, "The Hebrew for "strengthen," chazquw (OT:2388), refers to the strength residing in the hands for grasping and holding a thing manfully; "confirm," to the firmness in the knees with which one keeps his ground, 'aamats (OT:553), so as not to be dislodged by any other (1)." I thought that this description simply sums up our call as believers. We are to come along side those who are weak to strengthen and confirm them.

You might be called to strengthen someone who is dealing with temptation to sin. You might deal with someone who is falling apart and loosing a grip on life. You might be called to confirm someone who is loosing ground spiritually. We see this example in Galatians 6:1-2, "Brethren, even if a man is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, lest you too be tempted.

Bear one another's burdens, and thus fulfill the law of Christ (NAS)." I know that there are times when I feel completed exhausted within. The busyness of life comes in and robs my strength. There have been many times when brothers have called me at the right moment on the phone and oh how I needed to hear from them. The Lord has used these men to strengthen my grip during those times of exhaustion. It has been a real encouragement to watch the Lord place certain men in my life who come along side and hold me up when my knees are feeble.

During those times when I feel like I am loosing ground in this battle called life. How about you, do you ever get dislodged and off course? Does exhaustion set in and make your knees weak? It is during these times that the Lord will strengthen you through His body. He will place people in your life that at precisely the right moment will bring the Lords encouragement in a tangible way. This is the love that Jesus talked about in John 13:34, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another (NAS)."

This kind of encouragement strengthening is the fruit of this verse here in John 13:34. It is this love lead by the Holy Spirit that comes along side to hold us up. There are times though when the Lord will have no one around but Himself to encourage us in exhaustion and strengthen us when we are feeble. It is in these times that He is to be our only strength. He will in these times Himself confirm our feeble knees. He will speak to us like to no human voice can. His personal comfort will surpass any human touch.

It is His grace for the moment that can not be borrowed or stored up. There was a time when I was at a Men's Retreat and it was my first one ever. It was a very difficult time early in our marriage and I needed a touch from the Lord. During the first night the opening Pastor asked everyone to come forward who needed a touch from the Lord. Then he asked everyone else to come forward and put their hands on the shoulders of the guys kneeling down for prayer. I went forward and knelt down. My knees were feeble and my grip was weak and exhausted.

I was eager to feel a comforting touch of another brother. It never came though. Out of all the men in that place no one put their hand on my shoulder. I was taken back a little by this, but taken forward before the Lord's comforting hand that He was right there with me in that time. He wanted me and He wanted to be the one who strengthened my weak hands. He wanted to confirm Himself to me in my feeble knees before Him. It was something that I have never forgotten. It was something I needed to get me to right now celebrating 6 years of marriage. In fact that Men’s Retreat was truly an awesome experience.

Are you facing exhaustion in your grip on life? Are your knees feeble and weak right now? Take heart in Christ. Ask Him to put those who will encourage you and confirm you in Him. If you have those kind of friends then you need to call them and pour your heart out. Let them in on where you are and what you are going through. It is pride that says, "I can this alone." You will be greatly encouraged, this is a fact.

Maybe you are just looking to be an encouragement and are looking for a way to be used by God. Ask him to bring people to you that through you He can strengthen in exhaustion. Maybe you know of someone who is in that place, pray and call him or her. It might be exactly what they need right now. You will be used to confirm them and you might be the knee brace they need to keep walking through the trenches of battle in life.

Life is a battle sometimes, but we're not in this alone. Christ has provided an entire body around us to come along side. When the load your caring is too much to bear it's nice to have a brother or sister come along side of you. Remember when one member is hurting we all hurt (1 Cor 12:26). Be blessed as you seek His encouragement.