A few years ago, I tore the meniscus in my knee. Hobbling around reminded me how much I hate being weak. I already dealt with low energy and sensitivities. Now my limited strength stretched to cover physical therapy too.
We love our strengths. They open doors, garner accolades, and earn money. But no one has only strengths. Everyone has weak areas. The person who gets things accomplished may bruise people. The people person may be easily distracted from tasks. These weaknesses may frustrate and embarrass us. They sidetrack us, but they’re also gifts from God. They keep us humble and reliant on Him, which is His goal.
What about weaknesses caused by emotional or physical injuries, not DNA? Are those also gifts?
Joseph told his brothers that what they intended for evil, God intended for good (Genesis 50:20). God uses all of our weaknesses—including injustices and injuries—to benefit us. They serve as conduits of His power.
God uses all of our #weaknesses—including injustices and injuries—to benefit us. They serve as conduits of His power. #RechargeWednesday Click To TweetSamson’s Strength
Remember Samson? A simple haircut stripped him of his power. With his hair, he wielded supernatural strength; without it, he fought like any other man.
What if our weaknesses, like Samson’s hair, are disguised links to God’s mighty power? Paul viewed his weaknesses that way.
“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV).
How does this perspective change the way you view your particular challenge? Would you choose human strength over Christ’s power?
Our weaknesses may limit us in some areas, but they strengthen what God can do through us.
Tapping into God’s Power
Paul’s limitations included weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties. He saw those as reminders to let Christ take over.
Our limitations never limit Christ’s work in us. Quite the opposite—they release His power. I have to apply this principle by faith. My feelings don’t always agree. Join me in asking God to help us trust Him with our weaknesses.
Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, please help me to be like Paul and stop focusing on my handicap and start appreciating the gift hidden in my weakness. Your grace is sufficient for my every need. May your power be made complete in me today.
“For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10 NIV).
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LINKUP is open. Today, my friend @DebbieWWilson invites us to find the gifts hidden behind our weaknesses. Join us and share your blog! Click To Tweet
Debbie,
I know meniscus tears – two surgeries for two tears…not fun. I also know the weakness that comes from living a lifetime with mental illness. Like Paul, I’ve asked the Lord to take the thorn from my side, but in God’s saying, “No” He has helped me relay upon HIS strength and experience the sufficiency of HIS grace. It’s truly humbling and powerful!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Ouch, not fun at all, Bev. Thank you for sharing your story of experiencing God’s grace in your weakness. It is one of my faith challenges to rest there.
Even though I know this truth, I sometimes still struggle against it. “Lord, couldn’t I serve you better without this?” As you said, we have to take it by faith.
Me too, Barbara!
I have actually had this conversation with God–he knows when to change our circumstances and when to give us grace to persevere within them.
Well said, Michele. Because Paul asked three times and from experience, we know sometimes He does deliver us.
What an encouraging post about our weaknesses. Thanks for this reminder to not sink into despair over my weaknesses, but to watch what God (not me!) can do through them.
It is easy to sink! God’s truth is our life raft. Thank you, Lisa.
I love this encouragement today! Especially the prayer at the end!
Thank you, Rebecca!
Soul-stirring thoughts, Debbie. Thankful our weakness is a conduit to God’s power. And need to be reminded of this. “Lord Jesus, please help me to be like Paul and stop focusing on my handicap and start appreciating the gift hidden in my weakness.”
Me too, Karen! What sweet hope and comfort when we’re tempted to be sidelined by them.
beautiful encouragement, sharing on twitter 🙂 it will bless others for sure!
Thank you, Mariel. That means a lot!
Debbie, such an encouraging post. We all struggle with weaknesses, and would rather we didn’t have to deal with them. I know that is true for me! But when I think back on times of weaknesses, I learned more about Christ and myself during those times. Thank you for these wise words!
Donna, that is true for me too. What a wonderful gift hidden in weakness.
I just finished writing a piece on this very thing. Thanks for your perspective.
Love it when that happens. Thanks, Lauren.
What a great change in perspective on weakness and hardship. Praise the Lord!
Amen! Thanks, Bethany.