Do You Have Weak Knees?

Have you ever heard the song written by Dottie Rambo in 1967 – “He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need”? Listening to the words from this song on the radio, and I thought they were, “He Looked Beyond My Faults and Saw My Knees,” which didn’t make any sense. Dottie later wrote that she had written the song about God’s unconditional love in response to her brother Eddie’s belief that he was unlovable because of the wrong things he had done. Dottie wrote the song to assure her brother that God saw his weakness but loved him anyway.

Bishop Pennel once told us that he pastored a church where a man would stay in his seat when he served communion. After service one day, he sought out the man and asked why he didn’t take communion. The man explained that he had been so bad, he knew that God would not forgive him. Bishop Pennel told him about God’s love and how Jesus came to die so that we all could be forgiven. This man needed to hear, “He Looked Beyond My Fault and Saw My Need.”

God sent prophets like Isaiah. In Isaiah 35, the prophet shares the hope of God’s restoration. The encouragement that would come as a result of embracing hope would “strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way.” (v. 3) In verse 4, Isaiah instructs, “Say to those with fearful hearts, ‘Be strong, do not fear.’ ”

Have you ever felt weak-kneed? God strengthens weak knees through Scripture and the power of His presence. When God strengthens you, you will be strong enough to strengthen others!

Prayer: Father, I need your strength and your grace today. Strengthen my weak knees so I can strengthen others! Amen.

Isaiah 35:3 – “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way.”

By the Rev. Tommy Herndon
Image: Adobe iStock