Fortitude: A word seldom heard, and hardly used but as I was walking the other day and it popped into my head. And curious, when I got home, I researched it wondering if it was biblical.

The actual word is not used in the bible one biblical character is referenced in connection to the topic of fortitude, and in digging a little deeper I realized why.  

His name was JOB! This man was a servant, and it was written “that there is no one like him on this earth; blameless and upright who fears God and turns away evil.”  (Job 1: 10-11) Most of you are familiar with his story, but just as a refresher the story starts with Job, a man who has got everything anyone could ask for: a great family, sons, daughters, livestock, land, wealth, respect, his health etc. as well as a deep and true love for God.

When the Bible says that Job was blameless, it does not mean that he was absolutely sinless. It means that he was a God-fearing man who sought to do what was right before the Lord. Job’s awareness of his own sins is acknowledged by the fact that he sacrificed animals to the Lord as atonement for his sins in chapter 1.

As the story goes, the “sons of God”, angels, presented themselves before God. Satan was there and a conversation ensued about Job’s goodness. Satan challenges God by stating that Job will denounce God if afflicted. God gives permission to Satan to afflict Job.  Soon after, Job’s sufferings began and one by one all of his wordly blessings and possessions were taken from him: his family, his wealth, his cattle and even his health…this all was recorded in the very first chapter…and the story continues for 41more.

But the question is why would God allow Satan to do this?

The reason is so that God may prove that faithfulness and trust in him is a valid truth. Job's story is one that helps each of us understand that we too will suffer through trials and tribulations and God will always remain faithful to the end.

It is hard to imagine how one man could withstand the tragedies, the heart breaks the losses, the criticisms, the physical pains of boils and sores, …without feeling a sense of abandonment from God who Job has been so faithful to. but his faith was so strong that that precisely was where he stood...on that faith....for he knew God to be His true God and no circumstances or trials would unseat his trust or tatter his beliefs.

Job doesn’t denounce God, for in Job's years of worship it was God who had fortified Job's faith through the relationship that had been established between the two of them. Job had a fierce belief/trust that God is in control and that he would see him through even the toughest of times.

 Romans 5:3-4 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 

The Bible tells us, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2–4).

If you are going through a time of testing and trial, realize that God has a purpose in it. God might just be preparing you and I and training us today for what He will do in our lives tomorrow? God’s word is what fortifies us. And as we grow our relationship with him, we become more and more able to faithfully accept his word to be true and just.  

I have started to really make an effort to read scripture each day. Not just reading a devotional or saying a quick prayer but honestly just taking a few minutes to put down my phone and read my bible with pen in hand. 

I have a little index card that I keep as a bookmark and I just randomly decide on a book, write down the name of the book, and write out the numbers of chapters and then cross them off each day I complete one.

Being fortified to me is knowing God is my rock. If he is with me who can be against me? He stands beside me, guides me and over the years has taught me that the greater my faith is, the more able I am to see how faithful he is...because I am more aware of his presence around me and the ways he just seems to work things out in spite of my limited solutions. When we built up a relationship with God we are allowing God to be an active daily part of our lives. God is fortifying us through his word so that we will faithfully be able to accept the big and little challenges and trials that are sure to come our way, believing/trusting that we are never alone.

Being fortified is kinda like 1) Christ building a fort of safety around us, as 2)we stand confidently on a foundation of God’s truth, and at the same time 3)being guided through the Holy Spirit who lives within our hearts. Being fortified is not just having  courage, but having the courage of a warrior that will withstand any challenge that comes our way. Being a faithful warrior calls for us to be equipped with God’s word and his truth and covered by his grace.   But most of all it is through a developed relationship with God through Christ that gives us the fortitude to take on the most difficult of trials.  

Scripture is our reminder that we are surrounded by God who is present in and through all circumstances and will fortify you and I with his strength, and wisdom and fill us with a peace that says “We (you and God) have got this” whatever it may be.  

Fortitude:

1.  Strength of mind that allows one to endure pain or adversity with courage.

2.  Strength; force; power to attack or to resist attack.

3.  Mental power of endurance; patient courage under affliction, privation, or temptation; firmness in confronting danger, hardship, or suffering

Five Ways to fortify your life; by Billy Graham

1)  Make Sure –Make sure of your relationship with God. 

2)  Walk with God – Learn to walk with God in your daily Life

3)   Assimilate Scripture - The Bible says, “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth” (Ephesians 6:14). The truth is the Word of God. We are to be girded and undergirded with the Word. Read it, assimilate it, feed on it; let it be your staff and strength. It is quick and powerful

4)   Pray Always - Fourth, fortify yourself with prayer. The Bible, referring to “the evil day,” says, “praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18)

5)  Meditate on Christ - Fifth, we must fortify ourselves by meditating upon the person of Christ. Charles Haddon Spurgeon once said, “There have never been 15 minutes in my life when I did not sense the presence of Christ.” We must learn again to practice the presence of God

May God help each of us to strive to be fortified; so when battles are to be fought, each of us will be a warrior prepared. Amen

Praise God wherever you are and whatever situation He has allowed you to be in . . . His glory will shine through!

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