Proverbs 24:10

The book of Proverbs gives us a lot of instruction on a lot of different subjects. One subject that can keep us in God’s wisdom is Godly Follower-ship. Who we follow; where we follow; how we follow are all spoken about in Proverbs. Here is one of them about adversity:

Proverbs 24:10 (ESV)

If you faint in the day of adversity,

your strength is small.

Proverbs 24:10 (NASV)

If you are slack in the day of distress,

Your strength is limited.

The word slack in this verse is a word meaning to "sink."   The picture we have of this word is that of hay as it burns.  The flames lick away at the hay and as it burns the weak stock begins to fall into the flames, given very little resistance to the consuming fire.   The proverb means, that, like hay that is eaten by the torch of the flame because of the weakness of its stock, so too, those who have not strength about them will fail.  When our strength is "limited" we will soon be lost to the distress of the day, event or conflict.   The conflict reveals the weakness of our training; the frailty of our character.   In the day of distress, what we are is revealed.   If we are slack it is because we have not relied upon the strength provided by God in Christ through the Spirit.    Remember, distress will reveal our strength.  If we are slack it is because we haven't allowed the strength of God to fill our lives.  But, remember, the real truth here:  We are not strong.  It is in our weakness that God's grace and strength are made perfect (2 Corinthians 12:8).   We were made frail.   We will fall in the time of distress when we try on our own.  But, in the time of distress IF we fall on faith we, too, will be in the hall of faith (Hebrews 11).  That chapter of God's Word is full of all those, who in the time of distress,  did not sink.  They stood strong ... in faith.  But, they strengthen their character, faith and attitude before the stress and suffering come.   You can get strength from suffering (after it is over) and you can gain strength before suffering, but strength is "revealed" during suffering.   Notice what Solomon later says about the righteous and wicked:

Proverbs 24:15-16 (ESV)

Lie not in wait as a wicked man against the dwelling of the righteous;

do no violence to his home;

for the righteous falls seven times and rises again,

but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.