What is ironic about the Christian life is that the necessary starting point for living in the power of God is to realize you are powerless in yourself, meaning that based on your own resources you pitifully lack what it takes to be faithful. That’s why a complete dependence upon God by completely trusting in his word is absolutely essential to be strengthened with this power. How well we believe this is evidenced by how quickly we go to God when we are pressed. Accordingly, Paul’s intended outcomes of receiving this power in Col 1:11 is not dreaming big things for God, nor is it gaining massive influence online, but possessing all steadfastness or endurance and patience.
The need for endurance and patience imply that difficulty, hardship and times of testing are inevitable characteristics of this life. You know you are in the midst of one of these times when it is hard to trust in God’s word. So what do you do when you find yourself in the thick of it? When you are weak and/or discouraged, where does your mind go? Thoughts like—”I must please him; I need to follow God’s will during this time”…OR…Is it—”Why am I going through this? This is too hard. How can I change my circumstances as fast as possible to get out from under this?” Just to be clear—There’s nothing wrong with praying for the Lord to remove difficulty, but if we don’t pray for power to patiently endure, then we certainly won’t please the Lord in the circumstance. We should never be surprised that life isn’t always easy and enjoyable and that what we need to faithfully endure life’s difficulties is beyond and exceeds our own resources. We will need God’s power to in order to walk in his will and please him in all circumstances.