In the strength of the Lord we can do and endure and overcome

"In the strength of the Lord we can do and endure and overcome all things." These words, spoken by David A. Bednar, echo with the weight of scripture and the wisdom of lived faith. They remind us that human effort, though noble, is finite, while divine aid is boundless. Alone, we are fragile, vulnerable to the storms of life; but when we anchor ourselves in the power of the Lord, we discover within us a strength beyond our own, a power that steadies, uplifts, and transforms weakness into triumph.

The ancients often testified to this truth. David, the shepherd boy, did not slay Goliath by the might of his arm, but in the strength of the Lord. Moses did not part the Red Sea by human cunning, but by divine command. The martyrs of old did not endure fire, lions, and swords by their own will, but by the Spirit that dwelt within them. The pattern is eternal: the greatest victories of mankind are won not by human might alone, but by reliance upon Heaven.

Consider the story of Corrie ten Boom, who, during the terror of the Second World War, was imprisoned in Nazi camps for sheltering Jews. She endured hunger, cruelty, and despair that would have broken any human soul. Yet she testified afterward that it was not her willpower that sustained her, but the strength of Christ within her. She forgave her captors, even one of the guards who later sought her pardon. Here is Bednar’s teaching embodied: that in the strength of the Lord, the impossible—enduring suffering, forgiving enemies, overcoming hatred—becomes possible.

The quote also reveals the balance between doing and enduring. Some trials call us to do—to act boldly, to fight battles, to build, to create, to serve. Others call us to endure—to wait, to suffer, to remain faithful through long darkness. And in both, we require the same source: the strength of the Lord. Human strength alone may suffice for a day, but for the long years of endurance, for the sharp pain of trial, or for the courage of great deeds, we need strength that does not fail.

Yet the promise goes further: not only to do and endure, but also to overcome all things. This is the language of victory. It is not the shallow victory of worldly conquest, but the deeper triumph of the soul—the victory over fear, despair, and sin. It is the assurance that with divine help, nothing can ultimately defeat us. Mountains may rise, seas may rage, enemies may surround us, but none of these can prevail against the one who draws from the well of God’s strength.

The lesson is clear: do not rely only upon your own might. Seek the power that flows from prayer, faith, and obedience. When challenges overwhelm you, remember that your mortal limits are not the end, for there is greater strength available to those who lean upon the Lord. To believe this is not weakness, but wisdom: to know that even kings and warriors are dust, but the Spirit of God is everlasting.

Practically, this means beginning every endeavor with prayer, trusting that divine guidance will magnify your efforts. It means turning to God not only in desperation but in daily living, drawing from His strength even in small things. And it means enduring trials with patience, not because you are strong enough alone, but because you know His strength will sustain you. Speak words of faith, act with courage, and bear hardships with trust—this is the way to live Bednar’s wisdom.

So pass down these words: “In the strength of the Lord we can do and endure and overcome all things.” Tell them to your children when they fear, to your companions when they falter, to your own heart when it grows weary. For in the end, human strength fades like grass, but those who stand in the Lord’s strength endure forever.