What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
Many may recognize our title as part of the title song from the album “Stronger” by Kelly Clarkson in 2011. She co-wrote the song along with four others and it became the third song for Kelly to top the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song held that spot for three non-consecutive weeks per Wikipedia. It also topped the charts in many other nations. In short, it was a very popular song and received a lot of air time. Perhaps some think because of the resurgence of the saying in that song, that Kelly came up with “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”.
However, a little research reveals (again from Wikipedia), the quote is attributed to the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, who wrote it in his 1888 work, Twilight of the Idols. The core idea is that facing and overcoming challenges, even difficult ones, can lead to increased mental and emotional strength, making one better equipped to handle future obstacles. While often quoted and frequently used to encourage one’s perseverance, it's important to remember that not all hardships lead to positive growth, and seeking support from proper sources when needed is crucial.
Incidentally, Friedrich Nietzsche, In 1889, at age 44, suffered a total mental collapse with paralysis and dementia from a series of strokes. He lived his remaining 11 years under the care of his family until his death. There was no strength gained resulting from the hardships and health issues he suffered. In fact, these hardships killed him. Perhaps Friedrich and many others fail to realize that one cannot find the proper source of strength in oneself. Nor can one find the proper path alone from within. The Spirit, in Jer. 10:23 tell Israel, O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps. God hasn’t allowed man to look to self for guidance or true inner strength.
I suppose the sentiment in the song is the idea behind certain aspects of the medical field as well. As I understand it, chemotherapy is a drug treatment used to kill cancer cells, control their growth, or relieve disease-related symptoms. It is a common cancer treatment that can be used alone or in conjunction with other therapies like surgery, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy. I have known cancer patients that have stated: “If this chemo doesn’t kill me, it’ll make me stronger.” Maybe they were convinced that this was the most effective treatment available. Sadly, many who are ravaged by cancer, chemotherapy and other medical treatments cannot overcome their disease.
We know from Eph. 3:16 as the Spirit had Paul pen the epistle to the church there, that true strength, strength of mind, comes from what the Spirit delivered and had written down. Paul’s prayer to God on behalf of this brethren was “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;”. We also see in the following verse, “That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,”. As “faith” comes by the hearing of the Word of God (Rom. 10:17), it only makes sense that the Word of God is how “Christ dwells in your hearts (minds)” and the Word is also our source of strength.
This is why, according to Jas. 1:2, Christians are to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;” Dealing with temptation properly does make one stronger. Jas. 1:3 tells us that the “trying of your faith worketh patience. ”. Of course, we should be reminded that 1Cor. 10:13 shows the source of the Christian’s strength to overcome. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. True, temptations, if not allowed to “kill you spiritually” by yielding to them, will “make you stronger”. That way of escape is the Word of God.
This was true even in the Old Testament. In Psa. 119:11, the Spirit had Israel’s singer to pen: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. The Word, properly followed, having been hidden (firmly implanted) in the heart (mind), provides God’s people all the strength needed to overcome temptation, and avoid sin. However, unless or until one accesses the Word and utilizes it properly, one cannot draw strength from it. Neither can they be pleasing to God except they follow His Word.
In the New Testament, we have three occurrences of “be strong”. We are told in 1Cor. 16:13, the strength is “in the faith”. In Eph. 6:10 we see the strength is “in the Lord ”. And finally in 2Tim 2:1, we find the strength is “in the grace that is in the Lord.” Let it be known that while some have been killed for following the Word, the Word has killed none. Our Lord, in John 6:63b said: “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” These Words of the Lord, (the Bible), indeed won’t kill you, but if you allow, you can be strengthened by them. Yes, it’s true. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Live by the Word – Be strong!
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
