Popeye Theology

“… in quietness and trust is your strength …”

Isaiah 30:15

Popeye was a quiet guy and often talked and chuckled to himself, above all, he relied on his source of strength, spinach. He was never without a can of spinach nearby. When trouble came, Popeye would pull a can out from under his shirt, where he kept it next to his heart. He relied on all the strength in that can of spinach to take on his nemesis Brutus—Popeye could take on the world and always come out the conqueror, a victor. Popeye always claimed to be what he was and nothing more, as he confessed, “I yam what I yam!” He was weak in himself, and had total reliance in the source of his strength to make him a conqueror.    

You and I, when in a quiet moment need to chuckle to ourselves, knowing we can rely on the source of our strength—He, who has victory over our nemesis!

When trouble comes, you simply pull out all the strength you need. God is always, in your heart: reach in for Him! The Bible shakes us up when it says, “If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength!” (Prov 24:10) We can’t fall apart; we must be like Popeye and rely on all the strength of whom we claim to have faith in. When life deals you a Brutus, a problem you can’t bear, a disease you can’t imagine living through, a fear you can’t overcome—what do you do? It is time to simply reach into your shirt, there next to your heart, and remember where you strength is. Be honest, “I yam what I yam!” I am who is in me, Christ, who has all strength, all power, all ability, all courage to overcome Brutus—“because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4).

Like Popeye, you are weak in yourself, “you are who you are,” but you are more in Christ.

O my Strength, I sing praise to you;

you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.

Psalm 59:17

I Yam, What I Yam
Owen