Being a Godly Man Series #2

STAND STRONG

Don’t give in when challenged, attacked, or criticized.

Let’s start by exploring what strength really is. Growing up, the general understanding of a "strong man" was someone who didn’t show emotion, remained unshaken, worked hard, pushed through adversity no matter what, and never let others see him struggle. If you were attacked—physically or verbally—you were expected to fight back, and as long as you didn’t start it, there was no issue.

But where do God’s principles fit into that definition of strength?

The above man may sound like an ideal man and if it does to you then we were very much in the same boat once upon a time and in many ways these characteristics are correct. So why am I bringing them up? They need to be adjusted before we can say - those characterize a strong man.

Emotion

Let's start with not showing emotion. Emotion is very important and given to us by God. Happiness, sadnees, joy, anger, fear, excitement, etc. Though not all of these should be expressed the same way. Fear and axiety are things we are to hand over to God and trust He will handle them. Something that is very hard to do and requires great strength. Happiness/sadness/excitement can be very hard to express for many men or even women. As kids we don't think about being goofy, excited, or sad among others. As we grow up people make comments, we feel embarassed, friends or family tease or make fun of you changing your mindset towards the expresison of these feelings. It takes a strong man to express these feelings without fearing what others will think of him.

Be Unshakable

What does it mean to remain unshaken? Most know of the saying, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13), but what that is easy to say. How do we actually do this? The simple answer - Faith. This will be a series all on its own that we discuss, but for now a quick breakdown of this is knowing that now matter what is going on, God has a plan for us and will keep us on his path. The ability to have peace through the moments we down right hate, through the suffereing and have faith and hope in Christ. That is what it means to be unshakable.

Work Hard and Push Through Adversity

To address the work hard and push through adversity together I need to tell a story. Since starting my career in the tech industry I had job secuirty for a very long time so much so that I never considered if that is where God wants me. In 2024, just a little after our new baby boy was born, the tech layoffs began and half my company was layed off - me included. For so long I let the security of my job blind me from the fact my my work was actually putting a rift between my wife and I. I had so much stress from the workplace that was affecting my life that was ignored because I was to afraid to listen to God calling me elsewhere. I "worked hard" in my job, but not in my life, not in my relationships, not in my relationship with God. Being let go was the single scariest, most eye opening event of my life. Yes, even over being getting married and having children because now I had no way of supporting my family. To me my purpose in life had been taken from me overnight. I was terrified and felt useless to my family. This was not how God called me to be. I was being a strong man.

So what did I do? My wife pointed out that it our future is not in my control but, in God's and I haven't been trusting or listening to him. So in humility (covered in #4 of our series here) - I reached out for help to family, friends, and our community. When you love like Jesus and trust in Him he will be there for you and indeed He was. After spending days and hundreds of hours applying for work a spot in a company that I had applied to previously opened and while I had no exprience in this role - I spoke to my goals, beliefs and ethics. Trusting in God they decided to take a chance on me. Never in my life did I think I would end up in a consulting role for a tech company. I was terrified of talking and leading meetings, now that is all I do. If you work hard and ask God to show you the opportunities they will come, but you may not like the doors that open. (To learn more on how this changed my life continue here).

Working hard and pushing through adversity only works when you listen to God and don't try to control your future. God has great things in store if you step back, slow down, listen, and are willing to follow his lead even if it may not be what you want at first.

The Struggle

Never let others see you struggle may be one of the most foolish beliefs a Christian could have. The life of Christ from birth to death is full of struggle and strife. If you think about it the Bible is literally a manual to deal with strife via Christ's life. If we do not struggle, how in the world can you gain wisdom? When we read the Bible we gain knowledge. When we ask God to grow us He takes the trials of our life, shows us how to apply the knowledge we learned, and in turn that gives us wisdom. God told us our lives would be full of adversity, but we only gain wisdom that will better our lives from these adversities through Him.

“Now behold, I have made you today as a fortified city and as a pillar of iron... They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD.
— Jeremiah 1:18–19

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
— 1 Corinthians 15:58

“Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion... But resist him, firm in your faith...”
— 1 Peter 5:8–9

Spiritual warfare is real. Our strength comes from God, and we must stand firm, knowing our struggle is shared and our victory is secure in Christ.

Other Scripture:
2 Chronicles 16:9, Proverbs 24:10, Isaiah 41:10, Jeremiah 12:5, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Galatians 1:10, Philippians 1:27–28