Strength in dependence is exactly what Paul is getting at in 2 Tim 2.1: “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (KJV). “Be strong,” says Paul, not in your own strength and effort, but “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
We cannot give ourselves grace any more than we can give ourselves talents and abilities. Grace comes from the Lord Jesus. We are dependent upon him to provide it. If we do not have grace we cannot be strong in it. So our strength then, comes in dependence. This is just the way the Lord wants it. We depend upon him. He gives us grace. We get strong. He gets glory.