10 He is not impressed by the strength of a horse;
he does not value the power of a warrior.[a]
11 The Lord values those who fear him,
those who put their hope in his faithful love. (Psalm 147:10-11 CSB)

I am a big man. At 6’6” I often do not realize just how big. Throughout my life, from the early years with my father, strength was my power. Whether this was physical strength, a strong will or strength of character. I have valued what I considered my strength above just about everything else.

However, I have watched strong men grow frail with age or with the making of bad decisions. I too have had my times of weakness and frailty, but I have come to realize that this is not the trait God wants most for me.

As today’s scripture says, God is not impressed by my strength or power. He values that I fear him. And as I always taught my children, a healthy fear of a father is good and right. This does not mean they were afraid of me, or I of God, but that we have a healthy fear of consequences.

Ultimately, the most valuable thing is a faithful love of God which brings with it strength of character and strength of will. This is where true strength is found. It bolsters our confidence in times when we ourselves have none. We come to know that if God is for us, who can be against us.