2 Timothy 2:1

How are you to be strengthened? An athlete may strengthen his or her body by training. They may build their muscles or hone their skills. There may be tests to ensure that one can withhold against daunting odds. You might strengthen yourself mentally by growing in knowledge and wisdom, studying and testing yourself. How does Paul say we should be strengthened? Paul tells Timothy to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Typical ways that people go about strengthening themselves requires a significant amount of effort on their part. The training and studying are different ways in which we try to strengthen ourselves. However, to be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus is not really a serious effort on our part. It's not like you have to put something in, like time and effort, to receive the strengthening. Grace is not something you receive by effort or work. Grace is undeserved, and yet it is what Timothy is instructed to be strengthened by. This kind of strengthening is completely opposite to the typical effort and works of all other kinds of strengthening. However, this is the way to be strengthened, even though it may seem weird. Perhaps some insight as to how this works is found in 2 Corinthians when Paul is talking about his thorn in the flesh. Somehow, Paul can boldly proclaim that when he is weak, that is when he is strong.