Nourish Your Spirit, Stand Strong

For several weeks, I battled one of the most physically draining illnesses I’ve ever faced—salmonella poisoning. Before I found this out, I thought it was just a stomach virus. This food poisoning hit me hard. I missed work, felt completely lethargic, and experienced body aches, headaches, and an inability to keep food down. I was forced into stillness and unable to focus on reading or writing—two things that bring me joy. My days were consumed with sleep and time in the bathroom. The only thing that helped me recover was taking antibiotics and waiting for my body to regain strength.

As I slowly started feeling like myself again, God showed me something profound: this physical battle mirrored what can happen in our spiritual lives. Just as sickness can weaken our bodies, spiritual attacks can drain our souls. And if we aren’t spiritually nourished beforehand, we might not have the strength to fight when the enemy strikes.

Ephesians 6:12 reminds us, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Whether we realize it or not, we are in a constant battle. The enemy seeks to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10), and one of his tactics is to wear us down—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—so that we feel too weak to stand firm.

During my sickness, I had no energy to eat, and my body was depleted. Likewise, when we neglect spiritual nourishment, our spirits become malnourished. Then, when trials come, we cannot pray, read God’s Word, or even lift our heads in worship.

One of the biggest lessons I learned from this experience is the importance of being spiritually prepared. In seasons of health and strength, we must feed our souls so that the Holy Spirit can sustain us when difficulties arise. Just as our bodies store nutrients, our spirit holds onto the truth of God’s Word, giving us strength when we need it most.

Psalm 119:11 says, “I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Notice the phrase “stored up.” This means we should be continually filling ourselves with God’s truth so that when hardships come, we don’t run on empty.

Even in my weakest moments, when I had no energy to engage with God as usual, He was still with me. I felt His presence sustaining me through the prayers of my church family. This is the beauty of walking with the Lord—He doesn’t leave us when we’re weak. Instead, He carries us.

Isaiah 40:29 tells us, “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Even when we can’t muster the strength to pray long prayers or dive deep into scripture, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26). He reminds us of the truth we’ve already hidden in our hearts.

Now that I’m recovering physically, I’m reminded that my spiritual health needs the same intentional care. We can’t wait until an attack comes to start nourishing ourselves. We need to be in God’s Word daily, in prayer consistently, and in community with other believers who can encourage us when we’re weak.

If you’re feeling spiritually depleted today, take heart—God is with you. He is your strength, your sustainer, and your healer. But don’t wait until the next battle to build yourself up. Feed your spirit now so that when trials come, you will stand strong knowing that God’s power is made perfect in your weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Reflection Questions:

1. How have you seen God sustain you in times of weakness? I’d love to hear your story in the comments.

2. What is one step you can take today to nourish your spirit and prepare for the battles ahead?