STRENGTH. Probably one of the most desired quality of the human Race and especially Americans. In the United States we celebrate strength, and wear it as a badge of honor. When going through seemingly insurmountable problems, people tell them, “You are so strong I know you will make it through.” What pressure this puts on a person going through the struggle. Now, not only do you have to deal with your problem, but now you have to show everyone how “strong” you are, even if you are dying inside. So you walk around with head held high only revealing your pain to your closest family member or friend….or maybe not.
Many times on Facebook I have seen posts like, “I don’t usually post negative things but…..” OR “I don’t usually post prayer requests but…” My question is why? Well, there probably are people who are very private, but I think the main reason for people not posting or telling their problems is because they will look WEAK when they are “supposed” to be strong. Pastors and their wives, missionaries, home school moms, working moms…the list can go on and on.
BUT WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT WEAKNESS?
2 Corinthians 12:10- “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christs sake; for when I am weak, THEN I am strong.”
In this verse Paul beautifully proclaims that he is weak, and content with it. HE ADMITS IT. If you notice, he is only strong with Jesus Christ. Not His strength but his weakness WITH God’s strength.
1 Corinthians 1:27, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things that are strong.”
Think about this, in His three years of ministry, Jesus Christ healed many people. Most of those people we read about came to Him. They had to come to Him, admited they were weak and in need of healing, in front of crowds of people. How humbling. But the result? A beautiful picture of making the weak strong ONLY BY HIS POWER. He used the weak things to shame the strong. Those people who thought a blind or lame person was paying for their sins or a sin of another. In the law of the Old Testament woman with a permanent issue of blood were labeled unclean and everything they touched was unclean. Imagine the woman who had to risk going in a crowd of people to touch the garment of Jesus Christ. Risking His anger and those around Him because of her uncleanliness. She humbled herself in her weakness, she admitted she needed help, and in her weakness she was made strong by the power of Jesus Christ
Many people have told me I am a strong woman because of what I had went through and am going through with Malachi and missionary life. They mean very well and I am thankful for their encouragement and in by no means do I want to undermine that. But I stand before you so very weak, it is only by Gods grace that I am still standing, Gods power, not my own that has given me the grace to make it; and I need help and lots of it. I have my husband, a support system of friends, churches that pray, and of course, the Holy Spirit that help me through the day. Sometimes they drag me.
I want to encourage you today to embrace your weaknesses WITH Christ by your side. Be honest. Break the chains of having to be strong all the time, ASK FOR HELP, and share the sad moments “For when you are weak, then you are strong” and oh what a testimony for Christ that will be.