48. Praise to the One Who Strengthens Us
R
May our Lord Jesus Christ... encourage your hearts and strengthen
you in every good deed and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16–17W
HENJesus first found several of his disciples they were
working by the Sea of Galilee. After hard days of fishing,
they probably smelled of perspiration and fish scales. Upon return-
ing to shore, they likely had tackled the job of cleaning fish first,
then occupied themselves with mending their nets.
When reading a commentary on 2 Thessalonians I was fascinated
to find that the phrase “restoring and strengthening” had the same
meaning as “the mending of nets.” I loved that.
I know I need God’s restoration when I’ve been out in the thick of
his work. Don’t you? I need him to mend my nets when they are torn
by fatigue, low self-esteem, or envy. I need him to strengthen me and
shore me up, to restore me and give me renewed faith and confi-