Over the Christmas break, I spent more time watching television than I probably should have. There is a strange gap between the end of college football and the start of the NFL playoffs, where networks fill the air with sports most of us never watch. Somewhere between ice skating and competitive snow skiing, I landed in a strongman competition. These guys were unbelievable. Their legs looked like tree trunks, their arms like steel cables. They were not lifting hundreds of pounds; they were lifting over a thousand.
Strength Is Choosing God
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What surprised me most was not their strength, but their stories. Almost every athlete talked about a major injury, surgery, or setback. Torn muscles. Broken bones. Long rehab seasons. Even though they looked powerful, each one had faced moments where their strength failed them and had to be rebuilt.
That image stayed with me because it perfectly captures where we are as a church stepping into 2026. Strength is not the absence of weakness; it is choosing to rebuild where God. We often talk about strength as power, endurance, or resilience, but biblical strength is about dependence. It is about knowing where our strength truly comes from.
When we say our theme for 2026 is ‘Strong,’ we are not pretending that there were no challenges in 2025. We felt seasons of fatigue. We navigated decline before renewal. But what matters is this: God was faithful, and we were faithful right alongside Him.
We saw baptisms. We saw generosity surge. We saw attendance rebound. We saw discipleship deepen. We saw volunteers rise up. We saw children fill classrooms, families gather at tables, and our property used daily for ministry. None of that happened because we were impressive. It happened because God met us in our weakness and strengthened what was feeble.
That is exactly what Hebrews 12 calls us to do. Strengthen what is weak. Lift what is drooping. Make straight paths again. Not so we can say we are strong, but so that no one misses the grace of God.
As we begin this year together, the question is not whether Kingsview is strong enough. The question is whether we are willing to step forward in the strength God is already providing.
Theme for the Year: Strong Enough to Step Forward
Hebrews 12: 12- 13
Hebrews 12 drops us right into the middle of a larger story, but it is a powerful place to begin. The writer has already reminded us that Jesus is our perfect High Priest, the Pioneer of faith, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Everything leading up to this moment has been pointing our eyes back to Christ. And because we look to Jesus, we are not left to generate strength on our own. We receive strength. That is where this year begins.
Our Strength Returns When Our Focus Returns to Jesus
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Walking Through Struggles With Jesus Builds Lasting Strength
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This is how we start strong. Not by pretending we are strong already, but by choosing to step forward with the strength God supplies.
True Concern for One Another
Hebrews 12:14-15
While we know that we are to be strong, true strength is never meant to be selfish. Strength is also revealed in how we lift up those around us when they are weak. When their knees are feeble, when their arms hang down in exhaustion, our call is to stand alongside them. Sometimes that strength shows in prayer, sometimes in service, and sometimes simply in acknowledging the weight they carry. There is power in noticing someone’s struggle and offering a steady presence.
Our Family and Friends Need Our Strength
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Carry Burdens with Wisdom Instead of Ownership
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A Timeless Example
Hebrews 12:15-16
The writer of Hebrews reminds us that there is a cautionary example from Scripture that still speaks today, Esau, the eldest son, who once held the birthright and the inheritance that carried God’s blessing. Yet, in a moment of impatience and immaturity, he traded what was eternally valuable for something fleeting, a single bowl of red lentils. In that moment, his belly was satisfied, but his heart would soon be broken.
Short-term Satisfaction Drain Us of Our Strength and Can Rob Us of Eternal Blessings
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Confession and Surrender to God Restores Strength and God’s Mercy
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The warning is clear: our strength can be sapped by decisions we make in haste, and what seems small in the moment can have lasting consequences. But the good news is that, unlike Esau, we have a Savior who offers restoration, strength, and the ability to step forward wisely if we bring our choices and burdens to Him.
As we step into 2026, the question for each of us is not simply, “How can I be strong?” It is, “Where will I allow God’s strength to work in my life?” Strength is not measured by what we can carry on our own; it is measured by how we rely on Christ to carry us through challenges, and how we allow Him to work through us for others.
We have seen three key truths today from Hebrews 12:12–16. First, we are strengthened when we keep our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. Even in the difficult moments, when the path seems unclear or exhausting, His strength allows us to take each step with purpose and confidence. Second, true strength is relational—it is expressed when we carry one another’s burdens wisely, pray for one another, and offer support without absorbing the sin or negativity that belongs to someone else. And third, strength requires wisdom and vigilance. Esau’s story reminds us that short-term satisfaction can rob us of lasting blessings, but confession, surrender, and trust in God restore our strength and align us with His will.
So as we move into this new year, I want you to consider three challenges:
Identify the areas where you are relying on your own strength instead of God’s.
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Look around and see who may need your strength. Pray for them, serve them, encourage them, but leave their sins and burdens with God.
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Are there decisions—big or small—that are costing you God’s blessing? Confess, repent, and move forward with wisdom.
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Kingsview, strength is not just about muscles or accomplishments. True strength is spiritual, relational, and wise. It is the ability to walk faithfully with God, carry others with compassion, and make choices that honor Him even when it’s difficult. As we enter 2026, let us be strong in the Lord, grounded in His Word, and intentional in living out our faith.
You are not alone. You are not powerless. You have the perfect High Priest, the Spirit of God, and a community of believers walking beside you. Step forward strong, step forward confident, and step forward knowing that the Lord equips those He calls.