約翰．斯特普（John Stroup）在他的著作（From the Pit to the Pulpit）裡提到，在他生命中有許多強大且邪惡的力量，掌控他的身體、性慾和情緒，使他飽受折磨。他指出：「我在少年時期就開始吸毒⋯⋯。輟學之後，我的生活更是沉淪在罪惡的深淵。」最後，斯特普的罪行讓他入獄服刑。在他服刑的那五年內，聖經真理對他來說變得如此真實，於是他在上帝面前謙卑自己。靠著上帝的恩典，他終於勝過這些比他更強的邪惡力量，擺脫惡習。

古以色列民經常受到欺壓，有時還被比他們「更強」的敵人擄去（耶利米書31章11節）。即使他們的困境有時是因自身的愚昧所致，但上帝仍大施憐憫，為偏離正道的以色列民施展大能。當上帝為了祂的百姓而施展祂超凡的大能時，復興帶來的歡樂歌聲、豐收和歡慶（12-14節）便指日可待。

約翰·斯特普生命的轉變，見證了上帝會以超凡的大能，為那些信靠祂兒子耶穌的人行奇妙的事。福音書的記載讓我們看見，基督的能力勝過人類生命中邪惡的力量。今天「凡求告主名的」（使徒行傳2章21節），都能透過真誠、充滿信心的禱告，以謙卑順服的心，支取耶穌超凡的大能。

In his book From the Pit to the Pulpit, John Stroup shares about powerful, unfriendly forces of life that battered and bruised him physically, sexually, and emotionally. He notes, “I started using drugs before I could drive a car. . . . I quit school and began to get farther and farther into the criminal lifestyle.” Eventually John’s crimes landed him behind bars. While serving a five-year sentence, the Bible became real to him, and he was humbled before God. By God’s grace, he was liberated from habits that were previously stronger than he was.

Ancient Israel’s experience often included oppression and sometimes captivity “from the hand of those stronger than they” (Jeremiah 31:11). Even when their predicaments were because of their own folly, God Himself exercised His mercy and might on behalf of His wayward people. Renewal—including joyful singing, abundant harvests, and celebration (vv. 12-14)—was to be expected when God exercised His superior strength for their good.

John Stroup’s life is a testimony to God’s might on behalf of those who place their faith in God’s Son, Jesus. The Gospels witness to Christ’s power to counter the ugly forces of evil in human life. And the strength and power of Jesus can be accessed today through sincere, faith-filled prayer, and heartfelt surrender for “everyone who calls” on Him (Acts 2:21).