Strength of Living centres on Robert and his wife Agnes who are devoted Christians. They also inculcate the Christian values in their children. Robert worked with a foreign and expatriate-dominated construction company as a site engineer, and was well known for his discipline and diligence which earned him the highest award in the company.
In his church, Robert is the head of Hospital and Prison Ministry and his ministry had been making great impact in these two areas. Against run of the mill, he loses his job due to some racial intrigues at the management level. This brings untold hardship to the family. Agnes tries to sustain the family. When Robert sees that he is unable to play his traditional role of the breadwinner of his family, he becomes withdrawn, depressed and frustrated. His church too does not help matters much as church members and its management seem to have abandoned him. His reactions have grave consequences for his family and community relations.