Increased Strength ~ Story of Annie Johnson Flint

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.
 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might
He increases strength.
Isaiah 40:28-29 (NKJV)

free graphic

I like the way this verse starts out ~ such an exuberant way to say YOU HAVEN’T HEARD that God never gets weary?  YOU DIDN'T KNOW he gives power to the weak?  YOU HAVEN'T HEARD the creator of this universe has time to care about you and your needs?  

We don’t know how He does it.  He tells us His ways are unsearchable.  We just have the faith that He does and will give us the strength we need to carry on through our trials and day to day tasks.

Free for personal use or sharing

A woman named Annie Johnson Flint (1866 – 1932) knew the meaning of this passage of scripture.    Annie lost both parents before the age of six, was adopted, and later in her teens afflicted with painful, crippling arthritis.  Her fingers became closed and rigid; it was even difficult to turn her head.  She took to writing poetry.  In one account I read, she used her knuckles to type out the words on a typewriter.  Another account tells how she painfully penned the words with her crippled hands.

Annie was known as the “poet of helpfulness”, and often gave her poetry as gifts to friends.  As her poems became more widely known, many were set to music.  He Giveth More Grace is one of my favorite hymns, Annie wrote this hymn from her personal experiences. 

The last thirty years of her life were spent bedridden and in pain, but Annie didn't let that stop her from continuing to do the Lord’s work that He had laid on her heart. 

Annie Flint

He Giveth More Grace
He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
Annie Johnson Flint (1866 – 1932)

Are you
tired
weary
burdened
struggling
afflicted
or exhausted? 

Cling to the words in this passage of scripture, and the words in this magnificent hymn.

God cares about you! Reach out to Him for help. He will increase your strength and sustain you.  

Thank you to Su at Starsunflower Studio for her free graphics which I used to make today's Scripture printable.

This post is linked to: Word Art Wednesday,   Monday Musings, Deep Roots at Home, Fellowship Fridays , A Cherished Keeper, Titus Tuesdays, Hearts4Home