Paul describes his work in discipling the church as both “toil and struggle”; it was not easy. But that is not all, he said that in the toil and struggle he had the very energy of Christ at work in him. Now, there is the secret! We are never ever expected to do the work of the Lord in our own strength, though, I fear, we try. Yes, there is toil and struggle, but we have a supernatural source of energy that comes from our Partner. It is tapped through prayer and dependency on Him. What more do Christians need today, than to tap into divine energy? This changes our weak efforts into a powerful work that proves effective.
“Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” Colossians 1:28–29 (ESV)