When trauma and adversity strike, where do you find the strength to not just survive, but thrive? Discover the source of true, supernatural resilience and victory.
In this post from thefaithwins, you will get all the inspiration you need on supernatural-strength-resilience, God will impact you with Supernatural Strength to pull through that storm and aim for greatness, you will discover The Secret to Strength That Defies Every Odds and so much more.
When Ali Truwit was snorkeling in Turks and Caicos in May 2023, only a few days after graduating from Yale, she was suddenly attacked by a shark, which resulted in the loss of her left foot and a portion of her lower leg. After being airlifted to Miami, she was subjected to a series of emergency surgeries, an amputation on her birthday, and a stream of questions that began with “why me?” However, the assistance of her colleagues, particularly Sophie Pilkinton, who administered a tourniquet, led to the preservation of her life and kindled an unbreakable determination.
The world would understand if they retreated, if they defined their lives by their trauma. But they did the opposite. They turned their tragedies into fuel, not just to return to their sports, but to ascend to the highest levels of excellence, winning Paralympic medals and national surfing titles. We look at them and we see raw human courage—and it is breathtaking. But as people of faith, we are invited to look deeper. These stories of incredible human resilience point us toward a profound spiritual truth: there is a supernatural strength available to us that enables us to not only survive our wounds but to thrive because of them. When your world is shattered, where do you find the power to pick up the pieces and build a masterpiece?
Isaiah 40:31 (Bible Gateway, NIV)
🕊️ Going Beyond The Grit is Key to Supernatural Strength
We celebrate grit and determination, and rightly so. The human spirit is capable of amazing feats. But the Bible introduces us to a dimension of strength that goes beyond positive thinking or personal willpower. It’s a strength that is perfected not in our power, but in our surrender. The Apostle Paul heard from the Lord in his own struggle, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV). This is the divine paradox at the heart of the Christian life. God’s supernatural ability doesn’t just add to our strength; it multiplies through our admitted weakness. When we come to the end of ourselves—when our own resources, health, or plans fail—we are in the perfect position to discover that His resources are limitless. This is the foundation for a true and lasting breakthrough. It begins with the humble admission, “I can’t, but God, You can.”
How Ali Truwit turned a shark‑bite tragedy into a marathon triumph
🏃♀ From Hospital Bed to the Starting Line
After sixteen months, Ali was finally able to get back into the water, where he endured flashbacks and learned how to swim with a prosthetic. Her actions did not end there. The New York City Marathon was scheduled to take place in November of 2025, and she was preparing to run 26.2 miles alongside her mother and a group of friends who were there to support her at every bridge and hydration location.
“I couldn’t be happier… Despite the fact that I am experiencing some of the effects of the race, I am still feeling like I am on top of the world. – Ali, the truthful one 💨 Why Her Story Is an Inspiration to Each and Every One of Us Challenge The Outcome of Ali’s Response
Attack by a shark and amputation Medical attention right away and unrelenting rehabilitation Returned to the world of competitive sports
The dread of water Gradual exposure, therapy through swimming A pair of silver medals at the Paralympics (Paris, 2024)
It is the distance of a Finished the New York City Marathon in 2025, raised $220,000 for charity, and received custom prosthetics and mental-focus training.Ali Truwit
✨ What Does Supernatural Strength Feel Like?
So, what is this supernatural strength? It’s crucial to understand it’s not a magic spell that removes all pain or difficulty. Bethany Hamilton still had to relearn how to surf with one arm. Ali Truwit had to endure grueling physical therapy. Supernatural strength is not the absence of the struggle; it is the divine enablement to endure and overcome within the struggle. It’s the power to choose joy when self-pity is the easier option. It’s the resilience to hold onto hope when despair is a constant whisper. According to Philippians 4:7, it is a serenity that protects your heart even when the storm is still raging around you. A deep-seated feeling that you are not alone, that your life has purpose, and that your tale is not yet ended is often the source of this strength, which is often calm and steady. It is the very life of Christ, in all of His ability to triumph, that is living in and through you.
🔥This is the anointing that will help you overcome your limitations.
Ali and Bethany both achieved a significant breakthrough at the same time. They broke through the physical constraints imposed on them, the psychological pain of their attacks, and the low expectations of the world. In our capacity as Christians, we have access to an anointing from the Holy Spirit that enables us to experience a breakthrough that is comparable but spiritual. The prophet Isaiah describes a divine exchange in which God provides His people with “a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair” (Isaiah 61:3, paraphrased). The anointing is being put into action here! In order to exchange your suffering for His purpose, your weakness for His strength, and your hopelessness for a witness of praise, it is the divine ability to make these exchanges possible. Rather than being a privilege reserved for a select group of spiritual leaders, this anointing is the legacy of every believer who has the courage to accept that God is who He claims to be. It gives one the ability to live an exceptional life, one that is always pointing back to the origin of its power.
💪 Cultivating a Life of Resilient Faith
What are the practical steps that we can take to access this extraordinary power? It is not a one-time occurrence but rather a way of life that involves leaning up to God. When we choose to construct our lives on pillars that cannot be rocked, we are making a deliberate choice. This resilient faith is cultivated through intentional, daily habits that connect us to our source of power. Allow us to construct our life on the following three pillars:
- Prayer that is persistent: Prayer is the communication network through which the power of God comes into our situation. The place where we exchange our anxiousness for His serenity and our weakness for His power is where we find ourselves.
- Scripture Engagement Through Immersion: The Word of God is alive (Hebrews 4:12). In Matthew 19:26, it is said that “with God, all things are possible.” This verse reorients our thinking from “this is impossible” to “with God, everything is possible.”
- Community that is guided by the Spirit: We were never intended to go alone. It is often the case that the encouragement and prayer of other believers is the very channel via which God delivers His supernatural strength to us when we are too exhausted to obtain it on our own.
It is common for the path that leads from adversity to triumph to be one that goes beyond the limitations of human endeavor. The table that follows compares and contrasts the origin and result of human strength with that of heavenly might:
| Source of Strength | Nature | Outcome in Adversity |
|---|---|---|
| Human Grit & Willpower | Finite, easily depleted | Burnout, frustration, conditional endurance |
| God’s Supernatural Power | Infinite, renewed daily | Sustained peace, joyful perseverance, and purposeful breakthrough |
🌟 Stories of Supernatural Success
As the Bible says in Hebrews 12:1, we are surrounded by a “great cloud of witnesses” who are living examples of this reality. The tale of Bethany Hamilton is not only one of physical achievement; rather, it is the narrative of a spirit that refused to be defined by the loss that it had suffered. The foundation of her public message has been her great trust in Christ, which has provided her with a platform from which she can motivate millions of people. Similarly, Joni Eareckson Tada, who became a quadriplegic when she was a teenager, discovered a spiritual strength that inspired her to start a global ministry called Joni and Friends. Her existence exudes a miraculous success, marked not by the healing of her bodily ailments but by a spiritual energy that has resulted in the production of fruit that will last forever. At one point in time, she made the statement, “God’s power is illustrated and perfected in our weakness.” Originally published by Joni and Friends Ministry. These lives are not the result of a random occurrence; rather, they are testimony that demonstrate how our most difficult experiences may become our most powerful platforms.
🛐 Your Wound is Your Platform
Your point of greatest pain—the diagnosis, the loss, the failure, the trauma—that very thing you beg God to remove, could be the platform from which His glory is most clearly seen in your life. Do not despise your weakness. Do not see your limitation as a sign of God’s absence. See it as a potential canvas. God is the master artist, and He specializes in creating breathtaking masterpieces out of broken pieces. When you feel you have nothing left to give, that is the moment you can truly pray, “Jesus, I need you to be my everything.” That is the prayer of faith that heaven cannot ignore. It is in that surrender that you will find a supernatural strength rising within you, a resilient hope that whispers, “Those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles” (Isaiah 40:31, NIV).
🌟 Key Takeaways
- A resilient person triumphs against adversity. A catastrophic injury did not bring an end to Ali’s athletic career; rather, it altered it.
- Recovering is fueled by community. Every single person, from Yale teammates to first-responders, played an important role.
- Purpose transforms suffering into leverage. Through her charitable organization, Stronger Than You Think, the proceeds from the marathon will be used to purchase prosthesis for other amputees.
🙌 You Can Be Stronger Than You Think, Too
- Identify your obstacle. Write it down and break it into tiny steps.
- Build a support crew. Friends, family, or online communities can lift you when you stumble.
- Take one step forward. Even a 5‑minute walk or a single lap in the pool counts.
💖Rise Up
Is it possible that you are reading this today while you are experiencing your very own “shark attack”—a situation that has left you feeling hurt and constrained? You have been provided with the prognosis by the globe. However, I am here to hear a different word spoken over you: the story you have to tell is not yet finished. It is said in Jeremiah 29:11 that God has a plan for you, a future that is full of hope. I invite you to a new level of dependency today. Let us discontinue the practice of only requesting that God remove the obstacle and instead begin to request that He display His strength within it.
If Ali is able to run 26 kilometers despite losing a limb, just think about what you are capable of accomplishing.
Are you prepared to begin your own triumphant return? Please share your first step in the comments section, and let’s encourage and support one another, because we are all more capable than you give us credit for.
Regardless of the situation you are facing at the moment, I strongly suggest that you approach it with a new point of view. Alternately, you could opt to speak what the Bible has to say about your circumstance rather than stating, “This is too difficult.” Use phrases such as “God is taking care of my problem” and “I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). These are examples of phrases that might be used.
Your Call to Action:
- Pray with me: “Heavenly Father, I come to you in my weakness and my pain. I admit that I have relied on my own understanding for too long. Today, I choose to lean entirely on you. I ask you to perfect your power in my weakness. Fill me with your supernatural strength to not just endure, but to overcome and become a living testimony of your goodness and grace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
- Reflect this week: In your quiet time or with your small group, consider these questions:
- What is one area of my life where I have been relying on my own strength instead of God’s?
- How can I shift my perspective to see my current challenge as a platform for God’s glory?
- Who in my life needs to be encouraged with the testimony of God’s sustaining power?
- Share your story: When you experience a moment of God’s supernatural sustenance, share it! Your testimony has the power to ignite hope. Share this article with a friend who needs this encouragement, and let’s build each other up in faith.
References
- “Bethany Hamilton’s Story.” Bethany Hamilton. https://bethanyhamilton.com/
- “Ali Truwit.” Team USA. https://www.teamusa.com/
- Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
- “Joni Eareckson Tada’s Story.” Joni and Friends. https://www.joniandfriends.org/
- Bethany Hamilton’s Official Website & Story
- Ali Truwit’s Profile on Team USA
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