The Reality Of Our Weakness Being Our Strenth

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” 2 Corinthians 11:30 (NIV) 

I wish I was like the Apostle Paul. I wish I could boast about my weaknesses. Like most people I would rather hide my weaknesses. I’m trying to imagine people walking around saying things like, “I have Lupus and I’m proud of it!” or “I’m terribly depressed and I want the world to know it!” or “I’m in a wheelchair and couldn’t be prouder about it!” People would think we were crazy if we went around saying things like that. 

What the Apostle Paul was getting at is the fact that when we are weak, and in whatever way we are weak, our weakness allows the Lord’s power to be more easily manifest in us. When we are not depending upon our strength and abilities, but upon the Lord and His power, our weakness is used for a conduit of the Lord’s power and abilities, so we should see our weaknesses as strengths. It is our weaknesses we should be proud of and not our strengths. 

In truth, I don’t like to be reminded of my weaknesses. I suppose no one really does. Though I know the truth of Paul’s words, I find that keeping this truth in mind when my thorn in the flesh is worse or some new weakness afflicts me is no easy task. I need constant reminding that there is more to me than my weaknesses and afflictions. 

Too often we are defined by the things that are wrong with us rather than those things that are right about us. People expect to find weakness, and to some degree people relate to weaknesses in others. Yet they don’t like to be continually reminded of the weaknesses others suffer because it brings to mind their own weaknesses. 

Maybe it is something in our genes that draws us toward the strong, the attractive, the healthy, and repels us from the sick, weak, afflicted, and ugly. Human nature has a strong pull within us and can shape our thinking. In the King James Bible version this corrupted human nature is often called “the flesh.” Our challenge is to look beyond “the flesh,” beyond corrupt human nature and find that bigger picture we can only see through God’s eyes. What appears ugly may truly be beautiful. What appears weak may really be strong. 

I would encourage you to consider that weakness and affliction is not always what it appears to be. We may see these things as something terrible to be avoided, hidden, and shunned. Yet if we could step back and see them from God’s perspective we find they are opportunities to allow God to shine through others and ourselves, exchanging our weakness for His strength, finding that we are able to be witnesses to His power rather than to our shortcomings. 

As you are tempted to be discouraged by your weaknesses, I would encourage you to be honest, keep it real with yourself and others, and call upon the Lord to use your frailty for His glory. Let His strength be seen in your shortcomings. Be proud of who you are with all your weaknesses and find strength in the Lord. 

Prayer: Dear Lord, we want to hide our weaknesses and pretend we are strong, help us to surrender our weaknesses to You and become strong indeed. Amen. 

Karlton Douglas 

Copyright 2017