Hanging Hands Feeble Knees

I just stumbled across this verse in Hebrews 12 this past Sunday that I had never really noticed before. It says "Strengthen the hands that hang down and the feeble knees" (Hebrews 12:12). This is a verse that has applied itself to my role with several friends in positions of authority and who are out there doing God's work. The picture of hands hanging down and weak knees is one of a worker that just can't do the work any longer or has exerted him/herself to the point of uselessness. It's obvious that anyone in a leadership position is going to face increased attacks against the work that God is doing in and through them. Any of us who would allow God to use us more fully to advance His Kingdom should expect to experience hands that hang down in weakness and trembling, feeble knees. It's also (and possibly only) in these times of weakness that God is able to show up and completely prove His strength. He'll do it in a number of ways but He loves to use His own kids to speak life and encouragement to people (not just in leadership) who are wearing thin. God, would you make us really mindful of those that are experiencing the weakness described in this passage. Give us eyes to find those people as we live our daily lives and to not just see them, but take on your character of providing strength to them. In order to give strength out, we've got to be receiving strength in. God knows each of our needs and my prayer is that He would really show us how needy we are. Once we recognize how needy we are, we're so much more effective in recognizing the needs of those around us. Jesus - help us to see the weakness, both ours and then that of others. And enable us to provide your strength in both cases.