Strength Before Solutions
Borrowed Strength may very well be my favorite Knowledge Notes set from Kelly Bangs so far. In it, Kelly takes a deep dive into a moment in David’s life that could have completely wrecked him. Before doing anything else, David “strengthened himself in the Lord his God” (1 Samuel 30:6).
I personally love learning through David. I love that he is so beloved by God, yet he isn’t perfect. He’s passionate and creative and allows himself to feel all the things. And certainly, sometimes that got him into trouble. But underneath it all is this steadfast faith that God will see him through.
I wish my faith looked like that more often.
Because if I’m honest, when life takes a hard turn, my first instinct is usually to FIX it. I rush forward reacting to whatever is directly in front of me, trying to solve the problem as quickly as possible, and in the process I often forget to pause long enough to let God do the work He wants to do in me first.
Learning Through David
That’s the beauty of seeing David’s relationship with God.
David experienced a devastating tragedy, and before he made a plan, gathered information, or reacted out of fear, he paused long enough to borrow the strength he needed for what was ahead. He turned to God for guidance and allowed himself to be upheld before moving forward.
He didn’t move forward until he could move in faith instead of fear. He didn’t find instant answers, but he found enough strength to stay anchored while waiting for them.
I don’t know that I’ve ever met someone who hasn’t struggled with this exact thing at one point or another. That’s why this month’s Knowledge Notes feel so important. They aren’t just beautiful study cards. They’re reminders for real life. Gentle anchors for hard days, anxious moments, overwhelming seasons, and ordinary frustrations.
I even taped one of the cards from the end of the series to my monitor so I can remind myself daily to:
Pause.
Borrow Strength.
Anchor in Truth.
Delay Action.
Sometimes the most spiritual thing we can do is simply stop spiraling long enough to turn our hearts back toward God.
Design Team Makes
I also absolutely loved seeing how differently this month’s makers interpreted the set.
Shari (@sherriluvsles) created the sweetest stitched notebook using soft pinks, layered florals, tabs, and delicate details that make the entire project feel personal and comforting, like a journal you would reach for during a hard season. Her added stitching and handwritten notes give the whole project a quiet steadiness that fits the theme of Borrowed Strength so beautifully.
Sydney (@aredeemedrose) took the Knowledge Notes in a completely different direction by incorporating them into a bright and joyful scripture study in her WIDSIOPOSA book. I love how her pages show that these sets can become so much more than simple inserts. They can be used for topical studies, scripture writing, sermon notes, journaling prompts, devotional notebooks, and creative faith keeping of all kinds.
That’s one of my favorite things about Knowledge Notes. They don’t prescribe a single creative outcome. They become whatever your season needs them to be.
The Next Faithful Step
So whether you’re walking through a difficult season or simply looking for a way to stay grounded in truth throughout your everyday life, I hope this month’s set encourages you as much as it encouraged me. You can pick up Borrowed Strengths in the Illustrated Faith Print & Pray shop.
Sometimes we don’t need instant answers.
Sometimes we just need borrowed strength for the next faithful step.
