WWW: Are You Tough or Are You Strong

We’re going to have a quick vocabulary lesson because I used to use these words very synonymously. However, I learned recently that there is actually quite a big difference in how they are perceived. According to Dictionary.com (my #1 use as I’ve been going through the Bible), tough means: strong and durable; not easily broken or cut; not brittle or tender; capable of great endurance; sturdy; hardy. This sounded like a pretty good definition to mean. 

Now let’s see what strong means: having, showing, or able to exert great bodily or muscular power; physically vigorous or robust; accompanied or delivered by great physical, mechanical, etc., power or force; especially able, competent, or powerful in a specific field or respect. Pretty good definition of that too huh?

While at the A&M meet, our pastor looked at me during some of the heavy-weight division began squatting and said, "watch this guy he’s going to get it." I had no idea why he said that but watched as he lifted up well over 4 times my body weight. He said something along the lines that many will watch and say that he’s strong but there’s a difference in being strong and tough, because he is strong enough to get that weight up, but he’s tough enough to actually endure and do it. As I pondered on this for the next few weeks, I thought of the story of Samson in the Bible. I haven’t even reached that part in the Old Testament as I’m trying to read it all the way through, but you can jump ahead and read Judges chapters 13, 14, 15, and 16. That’s the whole story of him, and trust me, it’s exciting. But, when you read it, it talks constantly of this great strength he had that God had given him physically. However, whenever tempted, he was not tough enough to endure and lost his strength as well.

I have never been blessed with athletic genes and abilities like my brother, but I was blessed with the stubbornness to be tough. I struggle with lifting heavy, running an eight minute mile, flexibility, and generalized body fat. I do not have the genes to be a power-house athlete. However, the one thing I can boast about that God gave me was the toughness to endure. When things get hard, when you go into overtime, when it starts to rain, when you can’t breathe anymore, when it feels like your legs could fall off, when you wish someone would cut off your arms they hurt so bad, and you have to keep going, that’s toughness. That’s will somewhere deep inside of you. That’s what drives us in life. Otherwise, we’d give up when things got hard and never go forward.

Some of you are like Samson and are blessed with natural strength. I encourage you to be more and be tough as well. If you’re like me I encourage you to continue to be tough in the midst until you can gain your strength. Stay tough Endu and check out 2 Timothy 1:7.