40 Days of Faith: Day 36

Hebrews 11:34c – …became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.

One of the most haunting stories in the history of exploration is that of Robert Falcon Scott, the British naval officer who led the Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole in 1910–1912. Scott was driven, courageous, and brilliant, but he was also stubborn and often ignored advice. Instead of using dogs like the Norwegians, he insisted on man-hauling sledges and even brought ponies, which quickly died in the Antarctic cold.

Scott’s rival, Roald Amundsen, carefully prepared, embraced proven methods, and reached the South Pole first in December 1911. When Scott and his men finally arrived a month later, they found the Norwegian flag already planted. Defeated and discouraged, they began the long return trek. Supplies dwindled, morale collapsed, and one by one the men gave up. The last entries in Scott’s journal reveal despair, exhaustion, and resignation. They were just 11 miles from a supply depot when they stopped and never moved again.[1]

 Scott had the talent, the resources, and the opportunity to make history. Instead, by failing to persevere, he became a tragic warning of unfulfilled potential. His story reminds us that quitting short of the finish line means never experiencing the fullness of what could have been.[2]

 In Hebrews 11:34c, the writer of Hebrews points us to people who were considered weak by human standards. Whether they were outnumbered like Gideon, or Jonathan and his armor-bearer, or small in stature like David when he faced Goliath, the odds were stacked against them.

 In both stories, there were vast numbers who could go into battle. In the story of David and Goliath, Israel’s army was lined up on one side of the Valley of Elah. King Saul was there, as were all the fighting men of Israel. Yet every man was afraid and remained so for 40 days.

 In the story of Gideon leading Israel against the Midianites, there were up to 22,000 who could have gone to fight with him. Yet, the Lord would not have gotten glory if this had been the fighting force.

 The Lord said to Gideon, in Judges 7:2, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’” If you recall the story, there were two phases of paring down the numbers until it was Gideon with 300 men. God intentionally placed Gideon and the fighting men in their weakness so that they would have to depend on Him. He did this for his glory and credit.

 When David showed up to the battle lines to give his brothers bread and cheese and to take a word of their well-being back to his father, he stepped onto the battlefield in weakness. He wasn’t the experienced fighting man with the armor, size, and strength of Goliath.

 In both cases, it was the Lord who made them mighty in the fight. Their faith was one where they believed that God was bigger than anything that life could throw at them. Though out-manned and out-gunned, they believed God was able to do more than they could imagine. It was there, in the fight, in their weakness, while walking by faith, that they became mighty in war.

 In the early 20th century, Helen Keller became one of the most inspiring figures in modern history. At 19 months old, she was struck by an illness—likely scarlet fever or meningitis—that left her both blind and deaf. For a young child in that era, it seemed like a life sentence of isolation. She was frustrated, uncontrollable, and unable to communicate with the world around her. Many doubted she would ever learn to function, let alone flourish.

 Then came her teacher, Anne Sullivan, who broke through Helen’s silence with persistence and creativity. The process was agonizing. For months Helen resisted, but Anne pressed on, spelling words into her hand, showing her objects, patiently connecting language to life. The breakthrough came when Anne pumped water over Helen’s hand while spelling “w-a-t-e-r.” In that moment, Helen realized that the shapes traced into her palm were words that named the world around her.[3]

 From that point on, Helen’s determination was unstoppable. She went on to graduate from Radcliffe College in 1904, becoming the first deaf-blind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. She authored books, gave lectures around the world, and became a leading voice for people with disabilities. What could have been a life defined by defeat became a life marked by courage, resilience, and global influence.[4]

 When we look at these stories—of Gideon and his 300 men, of David with only a sling, of Helen Keller with seemingly insurmountable challenges—we are reminded that faith is not the absence of weakness, but the willingness to trust God in the midst of it. Robert Falcon Scott teaches us what happens when we faint in adversity; Helen Keller shows us what can happen when we persevere. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that ordinary men and women, weak by every human standard, became mighty in war because they leaned on the power of God.

 So, where are you tempted to faint today? Where are you considering giving up—on your calling, your marriage, your health, or your ministry? Remember this: faith doesn’t deny weakness, but it surrenders weakness to God and keeps showing up. It is there, in your dependence on Him, that He makes you mighty. Don’t stop short. Don’t let quitting define your story. Trust God with your weakness, step back into the battle, and let Him make you mighty.

 Prayer:
Lord, I confess that too often I want to quit when life gets hard. I see my weakness and I lose heart. But today I choose to trust You. Where I am weak, make me strong in Your power. Where I feel outnumbered, remind me that You are greater. Help me persevere, and by faith, become mighty in the war You have called me to fight. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
 
[1] Robert Falcon Scott, Scott’s Last Expedition: The Journals (London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1913).
[2] Roland Huntford, The Last Place on Earth: Scott and Amundsen’s Race to the South Pole (Modern Library, 1999).
[3] Helen Keller, The Story of My Life (New York: Doubleday, 1903).
[4] Dorothy Herrmann, Helen Keller: A Life (Knopf, 1998).