Hello, friends, and thanks for joining us for today's encouragement from the Our Daily Bread

Devotional. Our reading titled Strength and Weakness was written by Jennifer Benson

Schultt. When my son was nearly three, I needed an operation that would require a month or more of recovery.

Prior to the procedure, I imagined myself in bed while stacks of dirty dishes accumulated in the sink.

I wasn't sure how I'd take care of an active toddler and I couldn't picture myself standing in front of the stove to cook our meals.

I dreaded the impact

my weakness would have on the rhythm of our lives. In Judges 7, God intentionally weakened

Gideon's forces before his troops confronted the Midianites. First, those who were afraid

were allowed to leave. 22,000 men went home.

Then, of the 10,000 who remained,

only those who scooped water into their hands to drink could stay.

Just 300 men were left,

but this disadvantage prevented the Israelites from relying on themselves. They couldn't say,

my own strength has saved me. Many of us experienced times when we feel drained and powerless.

When this happened to me, I realized how much I needed God. He encouraged me inwardly through his spirit and outwardly through the helpfulness of friends

and family.

I had to let go of my independence for a while, but this taught me how to lean more fully

on God.

Because his power is made perfect in weakness, we can have hope when we can't meet our needs on our own.

Today's Our Daily Bread Devotional Scripture reading is from Judges Chapter 7, verses 1 through 9.

Early in the morning, Drupable, that is Gideon, and all his men camped at the spring of Herod.

The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Mora.

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