Strengthened by Grace: A Missionary’s Call to Persevere

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. - 2 Timothy 2:1

In his second letter to Timothy, Paul writes with the tender affection of a father to his son, urging him to stand firm in his God-given calling. Having recounted in chapter one how some abandoned him in his imprisonment while others, like Onesiphorus, went out of their way to refresh him, Paul now turns to Timothy with a charge: be strengthened to carry the gospel forward, to plant and shepherd churches, to fight the good fight, to be a good soldier of Christ, and to fulfill the ministry entrusted to him. This calling is not for the faint of heart. It demands a strength that goes beyond the physical, mental, or emotional. For frontline missionaries, the strength of heart, rooted in the grace of Christ Jesus, is paramount.

But how does one access this grace? How can a missionary, facing the relentless opposition of the Evil One, be strengthened to persevere in such a daunting task? Here are five key aspects to cultivating a heart fortified by God’s grace.

I. Be Saturated with God’s Truth

The Word of God is like a river nourishing a tree planted by its banks (Psalm 1:3). To be strengthened, we must immerse ourselves in Scripture. This requires the discipline of regular Bible reading, supplemented by listening to faithful preachers and teachers. Just as garbage in, garbage out holds true for our physical diet, it also applies to our spiritual intake. Too much exposure to the world’s noise and nonsense (whether through screens, unhealthy influences, or distractions) dulls the mind and weakens the soul. When the distractions come to pull us away, we do well to let the Spirit draw us to a life rooted and nourished by a healthy diet of God’s Word. Always return to the source of God's word -- Ad fontes.

II. Meditate on God’s Word

Christian meditation is not about emptying the mind, as in Eastern practices. It's about filling it with God’s truth. As Psalm 119:97 declares, “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.” When you rise, when you lie down, or when a moment of delay tempts you to scroll on a screen, recall God’s Word instead. Set your mind on things above (Colossians 3:2), letting Scripture shape your thoughts and strengthen your resolve.

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. - Romans 12:2

III. Be Much in Prayer

A heart strengthened by grace requires constant communion with God. Prayer is both a discipline, setting aside time to be alone with God, and a lifestyle of walking and talking with Him throughout the day. If we rarely pray, it reveals a self-sufficient spirit, as if we believe we can fulfill our calling in our own strength and wisdom.

Some of us fancy ourselves strong in prayer, but few of us truly are on our own initiative. The busyness of life can easily take us away from stillness before God in prayer. In God's providence, storms and trials will always come our way. If we see them correctly, we will let them move us closer to God in prayer. In a certain sense, God permits certain things in our lives so that our hearts will learn to stay close to Him.

Charles Spurgeon said it well: “I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me against the Rock of Ages.” He understood through experience that every trial is an opportunity to draw closer to God in prayer, relying on His grace to sustain and strengthen us.

IV. Surround Yourself with Faithful Saints

The company we keep matters. “Bad company ruins good character” (1 Corinthians 15:33), but good company builds us up in truth (1 Thessalonians 5:11). If you want to be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, prioritize worship on the Lord’s Day. Learn to live from Sunday to Sunday. During the week, engage in family worship in your home, and share meals with fellow believers as much as possible. Faithful fellowship sharpens and strengthens us to fulfill the mission God has given each of us.

V. Exercise Your Faith Through Application

Reading and understanding Scripture is one thing; putting it into practice is another. Like lifting weights to build muscle, applying God’s Word strengthens our faith. We are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7), not just for salvation but in every aspect of life. The need for strong faith never ends as we follow Christ. Applying God's word to all of life requires intentional, actionable steps. We must give thought to how we will specifically live out the truth of God's word, trusting God’s Spirit to empower us. It's not enough to be a hearer of the Word. We must also be doers of the Word (James 1:22).

VI. Learn the Art of Being Content

The apostle Paul once said, "Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Phil. 4:11-13).

Many of our problems and lack of strength stem from restless hearts when they should be content and overflowing with thankfulness. Too often, we see all the situations that are not going according to our plan or will. We forget that our lives now belong to Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 6:20) and He is at work in all things for our good (Rom. 8:28). To be strengthened by the grace of Jesus Christ, we must cultivate a heart of thankfulness and acknowledge the sovereignty and never-ending goodness of God. Through the gospel, we have been saved, our sins forgiven, and granted eternal life. We now live with purpose, and nothing is in vain. We have a high calling in life to be salt and light.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. - 1 Thes. 5:18

Why Timothy Needed This Strength

Timothy’s task was not easy. Establishing elders in the church as a younger minister of the gospel was a weighty responsibility. Like any missionary committed to biblical missions, he faced opposition from Satan, who seeks to thwart the spread of the gospel, the making of disciples, the planting of biblical churches, and the equipping of faithful pastors. God often calls us to tasks far beyond our natural abilities: forgiving the unforgivable, enduring suffering, bearing the fruit of the Spirit, opening our mouths, correcting, and confronting sin. These things are impossible apart from His grace. The common saying that “God never gives us more than we can handle” is simply false. God often gives us more than we can bear, so we learn to rely wholly on His all-sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9).

Through the work of His Spirit, God equips us to do what pleases Him. As disciples and missionaries, we must lean into the grace found in Christ Jesus, saturating ourselves in His Word, meditating on His truth, praying without ceasing, surrounding ourselves with faithful believers (as much as possible), actively applying His Word, and mastering the art of contentment. This is how we are strengthened to fulfill our calling and disciple the nations with the gospel message.

May we, like Timothy, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Let us commit to these practices, trusting God’s grace to equip us for His mission. How will you lean into His strength today?

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After Thoughts

VII. Acknowledge the Intercession of Christ Jesus and the Holy Spirit on Our Behalf

When we are strengthened by the grace found in Christ Jesus, as mentioned above, we can navigate life’s ordinary seasons. Yet, there are times when life’s battles leave us battered and weary: illness, death of a loved one, pain, suffering, or intense missionary service. Consider the frontline missionary, for example. Some seasons bring steady progress, while others are so intense that mind, body, and soul become utterly drained. In these moments, rest is essential. Being still and waiting on God becomes the only path to restoration.

Picture a soldier returning from prolonged, life-threatening combat, bearing wounds and scars. His survival hangs in the balance, and recovery requires an IV drip and complete rest to renew his entire being. Similarly, when we are too weak to press on, we must pause and trust in Christ’s intercession for us. The Holy Spirit, too, intercedes with groanings too deep for words, aligning our needs with God’s will (Romans 8:26-27). Christ, who died, rose, and now reigns supreme, sits at God’s right hand, ever interceding for those who draw near to Him (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:34). In these undesired but necessary moments of stillness, we must cease striving and allow the Lord to restore us as only He can.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. - Romans 8:26-27

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Written by Jesse Schreck | founder, director, and missionary church planter in Italy with Practical Missions Cohort

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