Strength
I do believe that God does want us to do some things in our own strength.
Mark 12:10 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
It does not take super natural power to love God or your neighbor. Obedience to general commands are well within the scope and authority of each believer to do in his own strength.
There are also times when a believer is called to act in faith when he does not have the strength to accomplish that which he is asked.
Let us look at an old story once again, one more time to try and glean an ounce more truth from its example.
Matthew 14
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
As all these verses are connected by the conjunctions and or but, they are related in subject and circumstance. Beginning with verse 23, we see that Jesus went off alone to pray. Why?
John 5
30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.
31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true.
Jesus says in verse 30 that he does nothing in his own strength. He seeks the will of the Father, hears the Father and judges a righteous judgment. Then and only then does he move upon what he has heard and what he believes by faith.
Verse 24 speaks of opposition. Yes we meet opposition when we act in our own strength, but nothing like when God is at work. The enemy opposes God at every turn. Whenever God is about to ask you to participate in a miracle, and let’s be honest here, it’s a miracle because you cannot do it in your won strength, circumstances will arise that make it obvious that only the power of God could overcome these obstacles.
Then fear and doubt set in. One asks, "Is this really You?" fear and doubt work hand in hand where the enemy is involved. What is fear in an act of faith if it is not doubt? God has called you to do the impossible and if you believe without doubt, then there is nothing to fear. So the first thing Jesus does is to increase faith by calming your soul. "It is I, be not afraid."
Now your faith is increased, now your soul is at peace, you’re all ready to do the will of God, right?
Then why does Peter say, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me…"?
Peter isn’t testing the spirits, as you would do according to 1 John 4:2. He already knows it is Jesus because Jesus has calmed his heart in the midst of the storm. Peter is clarifying his role in this matter. All saw Jesus, all what we should recognize as in invitation from God to join Him in His work. All saw, but only Peter stepped forward and asked Jesus, "… bid me come unto thee on the water." Ask me to do that which I cannot do, so that all will know that it is you being glorified and not myself.
For many see the hand of God at work in this world, but what part are you to fulfill if you do not ask? It might be yours to pray. It might be yours to serve in your own strength, holding the boat steady while another steps out upon the waters of faith.
Just because you see the hand of God at work in the land of the living doesn’t mean God has called you to perform miracles beyond your own strength. Nor does it mean He hasn’t.
Ask.