9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 2 Co 1:8–9.

We have a terrible tendency 
Not to see all that accurately 

We confidently self-deceive 
Delusions of strength, we weave

Desiring to stand on our own
We assert strength in flesh and bone

Yet no matter how assured—
No matter the strength of word—

Our assertions collapse under fire
When life places us on the wire

Our strength will no more stand
Than water in the desert’s arid sand

In God’s perfect wisdom and grace
He lets us fall flat on our face

It is by His merciful kindness that we fail
That our strength is exposed as frail

For our delusion of strength is deadly 
A dangerous viper, dark and dreadly 

Holding a snake by its tail
Will only result in pain’s terrible wail

The delusion of self-assured strength
Needs be shattered at fullest length

And when our strength is gone
Only then will we hear heaven’s song

The worship and praise of true glory
Magnifying the depth of God’s repository 

Now, in our weakness recently exposed 
We lean on His strength, joyously reposed 

But if our strength had not failed first
For His, we would never have grown athirst

Yes, ‘tis truly a grace that we fail
So of Your strength, ABBA, we can tell!